TECH Issue 08 by Deenar Press and Publishing

4 / TECH

DECEMBER 2010

OMAN’S ONLY TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE

Home Screen Perfect farewell to 2010 The year 2010 is drawing to a close. And we have the perfect year-end gift for gamers and audiophiles. With an in-depth review of the Alienware M15x, the new lineup of gaming headsets from Sennheiser, and the review of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, this issue is filled with enough interesting information to keep the gamers busy till the New Year. The content in this issue is audio-rich as well with the latest speakers from around the world. The pages of this magazine also have a lot on offer with respect to cameras and camcorders – click the perfect picture that captures the mood of the year 2010. There are a lot more products expected in the beginning of the New Year. Check out their features when you flip through these pages.

EDITORIAL

Hatim al Taie

Content Head

Content Manager

Asst. Content Manager

Senior Designer Designer

Have a Happy New Year and hope you have enjoyed this year with TECH. - Ed

Editor-in-chief

Malcolm X Crasta

Sujata Sengupta Poornima Ramani Shyniben Koyakkil Muneeb Khan

CORPORATE Managing Director

Abdullah al Taie

General Manager

Rathish Ramachandran

Asst. General Manager

Terry Mathukutty

Sales

Sami Dalwai

Emily Matthews

Mehri Vantanparast

Produced by

Deenar Press and Publishing LLC PO Box 139, PC 102, Al Qurm, Sultanate of Oman Tel: + 968 24 696868, Fax: +968 24 693569 E-mail: info@deenarmedia.com

$ 2010 © All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers; while every care has been taken in the preparation of the magazine, the publishers cannot be held responsible if factual errors in product and pricing occur. MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) listed only as a suggestion. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time. The publishers regret they cannot accept liability for errors or omissions contained in this issue. Please check any quoted hardware specifications and pricing with your supplier before purchase.

Model: Maria Elise Solvang Monsen Photography: Shakeel al Balushi

Talk to us!

If you have any queries, contact us at tech@deenarmedia.com

Printed at Oman Printers & Stationers, Sultanate of Oman

ISSUE 8 - DEC 2010

OMAN’S ONLY TECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE

CONTENTS Q&A

Tech News

Nouvo Tech

Photography

Video Zone

Interview

Audio Zone

Bargain Hunter

Computing

Time Zone

Dashboard

Gamer’s Delight

DVD Review

Home Zone

Business Tech

Quiz

Tech Favourites

Tech Directory

Nov ‘10 / 9

Letters

If you have any queries, mail us on tech@deenarmedia.com, and we will try to answer them in our next issue.

to the Editor

This month’s winner:

Iwin Francis Hi TECH Team, You people are doing a good work in making the magazine a great success. I regularly read your monthly issues. The TECH Favourites section is excellent. Keep it updated with latest products. Can you please tell me which television is better in today’s market, LED TVs or LCD TVs? On what basis do we decide which one to buy. Please advice. Thanks, Sahil Verma

Dear Sahil, Both the TVs are essentially LCD panels, the difference being the backlighting (LCD panels themselves don’t produce light). In a LCD panel the backlight is produced by CFC tubes while, as the name implies, LEDs provide the same in the LED panels. Led backlit panels are vastly superior in terms of viewing angles, contrast and colour reproduction but are more expensive to purchase. LED backlit panels also save space and look better too because almost all are thinner than standard LCDs. So, if you can afford an LED that is a no-brainer. On the same note OLED TVs are far superior to both since they abandon the backlight altogether. But these are currently far too expensive to be commercially viable but they are definitely the future. Plasma display panels (PDP) should also not be overlooked. They offer superior contrast and motion picture clarity than almost all LED backlit panels, primarily because they do not rely on a backlight. They are also generally more cost effective than LCDs and LED backlit panels. But they are generally large and heavy, so space saving is generally out of the question and also they use more power to run than both rival technologies, but to be fair this gap has been rendered almost negligible by recent advancements in plasma technology.

-Ed

Hi TECH team, Your articles are just awesome. I want to ask you about compatibility of USB devices with computer operating systems. Can a USB device run on a particular OS and if so, will it be compatible with other OS? Or are they generally compatible with every OS? Iwin Francis

Dear Iwin, USB devices come in many shapes and sizes and for various purposes. The compatibility issue arises from the availability of drivers for the device for the particular OS that you are looking to run it on. To put it simply – no drivers available means device will not be compatible. For portable hard drives and flash drives it is slightly more complicated. Their compatibility depends on the file system that the drive has been formatted to and whether the OS has the necessary drivers to read and write on the same. As an example, FAT formatted drives work perfectly fine on both Windows and Mac OS X but NTFS, although a superior system, works fine on all Windows systems after Windows NT but have ‘read only’ capability on new Mac OS X systems. If you are running another OS, a quick search online will give you the information you require on the compatibility of the respective file system on that particular OS. -Ed

A First for the ME Bentley Motors proudly hosted the international media drive of the new Continental GT coupé in Oman last month. Journalists from all around the world are experiencing the new Bentley against the sultanate’s unique backdrop of dramatic scenic beauty, colourful history, world class hotels, and superb, new driving roads.

East, the Continental GT has become one of the most coveted models among the region’s automotive connoisseurs. The new four-seat Continental GT builds on the success of its predecessor, capturing that GT spirit, but with higher standards of design, engineering, luxury, craftsmanship, refinement, everyday practicality and dynamic performance.

The original and highly successful Continental GT introduced in 2003 represented the first step in Bentley’s renaissance and defined a whole new market segment. It was a luxury GT that remained true to the Bentley grand touring spirit, achieving major worldwide sales success. Since its introduction in the Middle

The Middle East region is tremendously important to Bentley as it makes up 10 per cent of the luxury carmaker’s total world sales. However, the region has never before hosted a global media launch of a new Bentley.

Class addition Khimji’s Watches added to its exclusive collection of watches, a new range from Swiss watchmaker Girard-Perregaux (GP). With its origins dating back to 1791, GP has a long history and heritage. It started with pocket watches way back in the 1800s. With sophisticated style combined with technical mastery, GP has been involved in making exciting and innovative contributions to the world of high-end watch making. The timeless, classic and sporty GP watch models are distinguished by elegance, durability and mechanism. Seven types of Girard-Perregaux watches will include delicate tourbillons, perpetual calendars and split second chronographs. Ladies watches with gold bracelets and diamonds are added to the attraction of luxury.

Catering to the market Canon Middle East has announced the launch of its first ever laser printer to feature an Arabic driver as part of its built-in software. The new entry-level compact black-and-white laser printer, the i-SENSYS LBP6000, is set to emerge as the printer of choice among the Middle East’s growing SME segment. With the SME and home office sectors booming across the Middle East, the demand for compact, stylish, desktop

laser printers that offer high quality finish combined with Arabic driver capabilities is fast growing. Canon Middle East has responded to this demand with the i-SENSYS LBP6000. Perfect companions for the office, it operates quietly in sleep mode removing the background ‘buzz’ some printers produce. The model’s almost immediate wake-up and output commands provide rapid print outs, saving the user time.

Lighting the future Scientists from GE Global Research, the technology development arm for the General Electric Company, GE Lighting, and the University of Maryland — as part of a twoyear solid-state lighting program with the US Department of Energy — have announced the successful demonstration of a 1,500-lumen LED bulb (a standard 100-watt halogen PAR38 bulb produces 1,500 lumens) that addresses key barriers to more widespread adoption of LED bulbs for general lighting. To achieve this GE developed an innovative cooling method - dual cool jets technology. GE dual cool jets are very small micro-fluidic bellows type devices that provide high-velocity jets of air, which impinge on the LED heat

sink. These jets of air increase the heat transfer rate to more than ten times that of natural convection. The improved cooling enables LED operation at high drive currents without losses in efficiency or lifetime. For a given lumen output, the dual cool jets’ improved thermal management reduces the necessary LED chip count. This, in turn, can dramatically lower the cost of the lamp. In addition to performance and cost advantages, this cooling technology enables reductions in LED lamp size and weight. GE and the University of Maryland are in the final stages of the DOE project. The organisations are now studying ways to improve the reliability and lifetime of LED lighting systems.

Pure Powerhouse A Chinese scientific research centre has built the fastest supercomputer ever made, overtaking the United States as the owner of the swiftest machine. The Tianhe-1A was revealed at HPC 2010 China and set a new performance record of 2.507 petaflops, as measured by the LINPACK benchmark, making it the fastest system in China and in the world. This calculates to about 1.4 times the horsepower of the, now former, top computer, which is at a national laboratory in Tennessee. Tianhe-1A epitomizes modern heterogeneous computing by coupling massively parallel GPUs with multi-core CPUs, enabling

significant achievements in performance, size and power. The system uses 7,168 nVidia Tesla M2050 GPUs and 14,336 CPUs; it would require more than 50,000 CPUs and twice as much floor space to deliver the same performance using CPUs alone. More importantly, a 2.507 petaflop system built entirely with CPUs would consume more than 12 megawatts. Thanks to the use of GPUs in a heterogeneous computing environment, Tianhe-1A consumes only 4.04 megawatts, making it 3 times more power efficient – the difference in power consumption is enough to provide electricity to over 5000 homes for a year.

The nVidia Tesla GPUs, based on the CUDA parallel computing architecture, are designed specifically for high performance computing (HPC) environments and deliver transformative performance increases across a wide range of HPC fields, including drug discovery, hurricane and tsunami modelling, cancer research, car design, even studying the formation of galaxies. The Tianhe-1A was designed by the National University of Defence Technology (NUDT) in China. The system is housed at National Supercomputer Centre in Tianjin and is already fully operational. The supercomputer will be operated as an open access system to use for large scale scientific computations.

Luxury in grand style Audi is introducing its new flagship model to the sultanate. The A8 L quattro with a long wheelbase sets new standards of luxury, dynamism and efficiency in the top automobile manufacturing league. The Audi A8 L will be launched as a 372hp 4.2 litre V8 with eight-speed tiptronic and quattro four-wheel drive, but will be available with further engines in 2011. “The Audi A8 L is the most

important model for Audi in the Middle East and Oman for the next five or six years. It will be one of our top sellers. We are aiming to gain significant market share in the German premium D-segment and expecting four digit annual sales figures for the Middle East region,” says Audi Oman General Manager, James Oliver.

Nov ‘10 / 13

Living room racing

Bright Idea With 4,000 customers in 35 countries, PackshotCreator caters for functional needs such as the creation of photos for catalogues or 3D/360° Flash animations, thereby serving websites. The emergence of e-commerce sites has led PackshotCreator to develop a turnkey solution to address their visual needs.

After a hard day at the office most people like to relax in their living room. You can now do so while you race the virtual ups and downs of the legendary Nordschleife in a perfect race seat and challenge your best time. And best of all you won’t even have to leave your living room, because with the RACESTAR ConverTTable you can transform your

Docking

Griffin’s PowerDock Dual is not just another charging dock for iPad and iPhone. It’s also a place for your stuff. The contents of your pockets — your keys, change, guitar picks — they all go in PowerDock Dual’s built-in valet dish, while your iPad and iPhone (or iPod) both get a seat of honour on the built-in charging docks. You get an unobstructed view of the screen while your iPad (and iPhone or iPod) gets its battery charged. Even the 14 / TECH

designer table into a racing cockpit using your existing hi-fi system, console and flatscreen TV for gaming. Because of its elegant appearance and high quality manufacturing the ConverTTable fits everywhere where style plays a role, which strikes not only the heart of men but also women who will have their say at furnishings.

speakers of your device are unobstructed so you can listen while you watch. It’s perfect for bedside entertainment or for a quick reference on your countertop. It even features flexible dock connectors with low-profile backrests to support your devices while minimising wear and tear on the connectors. An included AC adapter provides the 10W needed to charge your iPad, and 5W of fast charging for iPhone or iPod.

The PackshotAlto XL is the only automated solution enabling websites to generate 360° visuals of large products or models in one click. This patented concept includes a large format lightbox USB connected to a PC, equipped with specific diffusion plates for an environment that is both soft and brilliant (195cm and 240cm height). A turntable supporting up to 100kg is controlled by software with a complete shooting interface (retouching and clipping, annotations, instant emailing, etc.). The setup also includes a remote controlled camera.

Quality viewing Furthering the company’s leadership in the connected TV space, Sony recently introduced the Sony Internet TV in the United States, powered by Google TV – the world’s first television with the ability to watch HDTV, enjoy apps, and browse the Internet seamlessly on one device. Shown in New York for the first time, the combination of Sony’s hardware and engineering expertise and Google’s

understanding of open software provides a unique user experience, merging multiple content sources in one easy-to-use interface. From broadcast to streaming video from the Internet, Sony Internet TV offers the ability to quickly search and watch content from wherever, whenever.

Air magic The Griffin AirCurve Play makes the speaker of your iPhone 4 10dB louder, and it works without batteries, cables, or power adapters. Just slip your iPhone into AirCurve’s rubber dock gasket, and your iPhone 4 becomes the perfect portable audio/video conference phone, video viewer, and self-contained music player ... even the perfect beside alarm clock. AirCurve is a cleverly designed acoustic

amplifier that collects the sound from the built-in speaker of your iPhone, amplifies it in a coiled waveguide within the base, and projects it out into the room. Though the dock itself uses no power, it features a pass-through slot that allows you to insert your own cable so you can charge and sync while you listen.

Keep on jamming Jawbone recently announced their latest breakthrough: JAMBOX, the first intelligent wireless speaker and speakerphone. In addition to delivering full spectrum audio, JAMBOX quickly and easily connects with mobile phones, computers, tablets, iPods or any other Bluetooth device, allowing you to seamlessly stream and share music, movies, games, phone and conference calls anywhere — all wirelessly, all in the palm of your hand.

Nov ‘10 / 15

PHOTOGRAPHY

A Perfect Click

Leicaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest in the V-Lux and D-Lux series deliver outstanding optical quality The Leica compact cameras are the true style, in a range of go-anywhere compacts. With manual features that maintain the integrity of Leicaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s film heritage, the V-Lux 2, the V-Lux 20 and the D-Lux 5 provide uncompromising optical performance.

V-Lux 2 (OMR390)

The Leica V-Lux 2 has a powerful 24x optical super-zoom lens with a focal length range of 25 to 600mm Another compelling feature is its newly developed high-performance 14.1 megapixel, CMOS image sensor

D-Lux 5 (OMR365) The Leica D-Lux 5 features a newly designed 1/1.63-inch CCD image sensor and at a standard resolution of 10.1 megapixels, this contributes to a significant increase in image quality

The camera features full-HD-Video function plus an amazingly fast 11 images per second in continuous shooting mode It has a three-inch LCD display that can be twisted and turned in almost any direction

It features a fast Leica Summicron zoom lens with focal lengths from 24 to 90mm and is the perfect camera for a broad spectrum of photographic situations

V-Lux 20 (OMR320) The V-Lux 20 is a perfect tool to capture high quality pictures, made possible by the numerous automatic functions and a versatile 12x zoom lens with a focal range from 25 to 300mm

It features 720p HD-Video function; autofocus and the entire 3.8x zoom range is available during recording

It is compact, easy to use, delivers outstanding optical quality and is the ideal camera for travellers The camera features a 12.1 effective megapixel sensor and the flexible use of the sensor format guarantees full exploitation of the entire zoom range With the latest advanced features such as 720p HD movie function and optional GPS Image Tagging, the V-Lux 20 offers flexibility Available at: HiTec Centre, 24497384 16 / TECH

The D-Lux 5 has an optional electronic viewfinder and detachable flash unit

Underwater fun A rugged camera that produces superb detail even in harsh conditions Panasonicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s FT2, from the Tough FT Series, is a waterproof (up to 10m), dustproof, freezeproof (up to -10 degrees Celsius) and shockproof (up to 2m) design. The AVCHD Lite gives you extended recording time and uses less memory than other formats.

The FT2 lets you shoot HD movies at 1280x720-pixel resolution with the press of a button

The iA mode helps the camera detect the scene and automatically correct blurring, focussing and brightness problems

The waterproof design lets you dive all the way down to 10 metres for crisp, clear underwater movies and you can zoom in and out while shooting motion images

The double corrective capability of POWER O.I.S. also works in water, making it easy to capture blur-free underwater shots

Tech Specs

FT2

Effective Pixels

14.1 Megapixels

Lens

LEICA DC VARIO ELMAR

Optical Zoom

4.6x

Video Recording

720p

Dimensions (WxHxD)

99.3x63.1x24.3mm

Price

OMR170.000

Available at

OMASCO, 24564310

The FT2 features a high-quality LEICA DC VARIO ELMAR 28mm wide-angle lens with a 4.6x optical zoom , but Intelligent Zoom uses Intelligent Resolution Technology to boost the power to 6x zoom

The built-in LED light greatly supports shooting in dark situations and the included silicon jacket protects the camera by softening the shocks of dropping while preventing from scratching

Nov â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10 / 17

Share memories M590 Sharing crisp, sharp pictures is now simple with Kodak EasyShare M590 Digital Camera. It is the world’s thinnest 5x optical zoom digital camera that boasts a fashionable and modern design. You can also tag pictures directly from your camera for e-mailing or uploading to Kodak Gallery, YouTube, Facebook, Flickr and other sites.

Kodak’s latest in still and video cameras are perfect for the adventurer in you

The EasyShare Digital Camera has a 2.7-inch bright LCD that lets you relive moments and view pictures with brilliance and clarity

With the Share button and Kodak’s Share Button app, tag your memories to Kodak Gallery, YouTube, Facebook and other sites

Take stunning HD pictures in 16:9 format, with sound and on-camera editing

The M590 allows you to make amazing quality prints up to 30x40 inches, with its 14 megapixels

PlaySport The video camera comes with smart face tracking technology

PlaySport is Kodak’s waterproof digital video camera of this season. You can share your racing videos on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. The sun glare won’t ruin your recording anymore – the LCD Glare Shield feature gives you two filters to choose from that help you see your subject on the display screen in reflective outdoor situations.

It can capture 5MP HD stills in 16:9 format

Tech Specs It allows full 1080p HD video capture at 30fps The video camera is waterproof up to 3m

18 / TECH

M590

PlaySport

Sensor Type

1/2.3-inch CCD

1/2.5-type CMOS

Effective Pixels

14MP

5MP

Video Capture Quality

720p at 30fps

LCD Size

2.7 inches

2 inches

Optical Zoom

Available at

Shah Nagardas Manji, 24703803

Super sensor Sony showcases its future plans to expand its 35mm large format sensor camcorder lineup with this stunning concept

Sony says that the new sensor will have extraordinary performance in terms of picture quality and sensitivity, and is able to create rich ‘Bokeh’ effect (beautifully defocused image) that is perfect for artistic story-telling in motion pictures

Thanks to the adoption of the E-mount interchangeable lens system that is identical to the ‘α’ series NEX-5, 3 and ‘Handycam’ NEX-VG10, the E-mount lenses will be compatible with this new professional camcorder

Sony Corporation recently announced that it is developing a new type of E-mount interchangeable lens camcorder for professional use. The ‘NXCAM’ HD camcorder is still under development and Sony looks to further strengthen its position in the entry-level segment by providing an affordable yet highly capable professional solution for many applications including independent film, music video and corporate communications, all looking for the cinematic look. The new professional ‘NXCAM’ lineup is expected to be made available sometime in the middle of 2011.

The recording format will be AVCHD, a widely supported format by many non linear editing software vendors and the same format as HXR-NX5 ‘NXCAM’ camcorder

A very short flange back distance (the distance between lens mount surface and sensor surface) lets various ‘α’ A-mount lenses be mounted via a mount adaptor

The ‘NXCAM’ HD camcorder will be equipped with a Super-35mm equivalent large format CMOS sensor, a widely used film stock size in the film industry perfectly designed for capturing motion picture

Sony plans to implement 1080p in 60p, 30p, 24p, 50p and 25p recording modes with MPEG4-AVC/H.264 compression

Nov ‘10 / 19

VIDEO ZONE

An entertaining orb With the Smartphonecontrolled Orb TV, watch movies, YouTube and more on your HDTV from the comfort of your sofa Orb Networks’ first Internet TV product allows you to watch thousands of online TV shows on your own HDTV. The aptly named ‘Orb TV’ is easy to set up and can be controlled through a convenient smartphone app (iPhone, Android, iPad, iPod Touch). In addition to online TV, it provides consumers with easy access to thousands of movies on their TV, via Netflix.

Orb TV makes it easy to stream home videos, YouTube and photos to the TV, for viewing with friends and family Type in the name of the show you want and Orb quickly finds it without requiring the user to specify its source It is simple and affordable, and transforms any TV into an Internet-connected TV that is controlled via a smartphone To help consumers easily find and watch their favourite shows, the Orb controller app features a powerful and easy-to-use global index of TV shows

Tech Specs

20 / TECH

Orb TV

Dimensions

95.0 mm diameter x 21.0 mm thickness

Weight

130gms

Input and output

USB 2.0, 3.5mm audio, 3.5mm video

Video formats supported

H.264, VC-1, MPEG4, MPEG2, MPEG1

Audio formats supported

MP3, MP3 VBR, AAC, Lossless, WMA, WAV

MSRP (~OMR)

USD99 (~OMR38)

Projector on a mission The H9080FD delivers next-generation video processing performance The H9080FD is the first 1080p LED high resolution home theatre projector in the world. It delivers next-generation video processing performance for demanding home theatre enthusiasts and professional installers alike.

Connectivity options include HDMI (x2) v1.3, S-Video and Composite Component

The H9080FD has an amazing 100,000:1 contrast ratio with a brightness of 800 lumens, and the LED light source provides more than 20,000 hours of operation

It also has RS-232C for one-touch automation and a 12V trigger for simple screen/projector automation functionality

The Dynamic iris automatically enhances and adjusts black levels

With advanced image processing from Gennum VXP, the H9080FD is a full HD 1080p resolution projector that has a built-in 1.3x zoom with manual lens shift

Tech Specs

H9080FD

Brightness

800 lumens

Resolution

1080p

Projection Distance

2.5-9m

Projection Lens

F = 2.5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2.7

Zoom Ratio

1.3x Nov â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10 / 21

interveiw

League of his own With over 16 years of service in Oman, S Durgaprasad, CEO of Bahwan CyberTek, has a vision

S Durgaprasad

urgaprasad, the co-founder and global chief executive officer of Bahwan CyberTek, is a man who started his career in January 1994 with the Bahwan Group, Oman. And he has continued to serve the people of this country since then. Bahwan CyberTek has existed as an autonomous entity since 1999 when the Bahwan CyberTek Group was formed by the second-generation entrepreneur Hind Bahwan. Durgaprasad started his career in the SSB Computer Division of the Bahwan Group, doing System Integration work representing IBM, AT & T, Compaq, HP, Oracle and Microsoft, just to name a few top companies in the league. “Initially we started operations in the United States and India for exposure to state-of-the-art technology and availability of good quality talent. Chennai, India, is our global centre of excellence. Later, we started operations in Oman and the UAE and have continued to grow since then,” says the CEO. Of course, for the past few years, the identity of Bahwan CyberTek has been synonymous with its new systems solution known as Cuecent. It is a product research and development division of Bahwan CyberTek and stands for CUstomer Enterprise CENTric solution. It is a leading provider of Business Process Management (BPM) solutions designed to drive business process agility in dynamic business environments. As Durgaprasad puts it, “Cuecent is the

22 / TECH

intellectual property of Bahwan CyberTek. Bank Muscat was the first user of Cuecent, about five or six years ago. We had the Integrated Channel Management done for them. That was followed by Bank Sohar and the government organisation Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE). We are slowly building up with the participation of Bahwan DHL and Petroleum Development Oman (PDO).” He very proudly informs that “Cuecent is a very good initiative by the corporate. It was built by a team of committed people – a team with sound business knowledge and technology exposure, both in the US and this part of the Middle East”. Cuecent currently targets four sectors. “We have built applications for four industry verticals – the government sector; banking and financial services; energy and utilities; supply chain management and logistics.” The work of Bahwan CyberTek and Cuecent, however, doesn’t end there. The CEO explains that Bahwan CyberTek’s success story is its work in e-Governance and the Payment Gateway. Starting with Dubai, in the Middle East, to Egypt, the company has served people around the world. “We have done some work for Dubai e-Government. The country’s payment gateway is built on our solution and 240 services are being delivered through it. Similarly, there is e-Finance in Egypt. We have got a contract

where 7.5 million pensioners are being paid through this engine. And the Ministry of Finance’s bill settlement for the corporate is done through our payment gateway. We have also got a contract with Dubai Municipality. And there are five banks in India that are using our offerings for inward remittance. A huge number of government organisations have done business with us as well, like the Electricity Holding Company, Dhofar Power Corporation, Haya Water and also Oman Aviation.” Durgaprasad sees the day when Bahwan CyberTek will play a major role in e-Government services in Oman. “We are working with them (Oman government) on multiple levels. One is to bridge the digital divide through community knowledge centres where we impart training for citizens

have had two companies which participated in assessing our organisation and our product positioning. In the year 2005 we got an award from Red Herring to be ranked among the top 100 private technology companies in the Asia-Pacific region. We also got assessed by an independent group (Data Monitor-Butler Group) that rates products based on the study and tests they conduct. They have rated us to be among the emerging leadership quadrant for this product – which is a combination of the BPM tool and the Enterprise Services Bus.” The unique selling point of Cuecent is that Bahwan CyberTek has taken systems solutions a step further. “We have not just built the platform and left the people to build the application. We have built the applications for them.”

Looking at groundbreaking solutions, Bahwan CyberTek has a vision in mind. “We have a new project for the Health and Safety sector. PDO is very conscious about health and safety and we have a joint venture with Bahwan DHL. We have built a solution for ‘track and trace’ where you can fit a device into the vehicle and find out the level of acceleration, deceleration, instances of sudden braking, and even check if the driver is steering away from the normal route.” With his vision for Bahwan CyberTek, Durgaprasad confesses that although he drives a BMW X5, he doesn’t really have time to explore his passion for cars or gadgets. With offices in India, the US and the Middle East; joint ventures with the Oman government; and being the director on the board of Bahwan DHL and the managing director of Infoline, his plate is not just full, but overflowing.

for usage of IT-enabled government services. This has been going on for the last year and is likely to go on for the next three years at least. We have done a number of enterprise application implementations for the companies here, including version upgrades. We also participated in the initial stages of the Sanad programme with the Ministry of Manpower, where we aggregated services and delivered them through the Internet cafés.” The CEO is proud of how far they have come since the inception of Bahwan CyberTek. “We Nov ‘10 / 23

audio zone

Triple the Fun Horn loudspeakers are the most natural physical concept for sound reproduction whose characteristics offer incredible advantages compared to other loudspeaker concepts, but at a price The theoretical advantages of horn loudspeakers are common knowledge to specialists in this field, but its principles are only rarely put into practice. The primary reason may be the considerable efforts and the ensuing costs. Also, horn loudspeakers not only emphasise the positive aspects of sound, but also the impurities which were not perceivable before. Simply imagine the horn loudspeaker as an acoustical magnifying glass with which everything can be seen much more clearly – its beauty as well as its impurities. But what if price had no barrier? Without this obstacle it is quite possible to put theory into practice, and that is exactly what Avantgarde have done with their latest three-way horn loudspeaker – the Trio Classico. The cost for this work of acoustical art – a cool starting price of USD62,000 per pair (approximately OMR23,839). Opt for the Trio Classico frame, custom colour and the full set of six Basshorn modules and the price will hit USD157,400 (approximately OMR60,520).

The Trio Classico is a three-way spherical horn satellite which – below 100Hz – is complemented with active subwoofers, and different to second order conventional passive crossover with nine and more components for a three-way speaker, the Trio Classico omega allows for a minimalist concept with only four passive crossover components for the complete threeway system Alternatively to this curved frame design, the standard Trio is available with a functional straight line horn alignment 24 / TECH

The M3 OMEGA system features a generously dimensioned strontium ferrite magnet structure which offers very high power handling and long linear excursion of the diaphragm

The heart of the Trio, a redesigned 27 ohm two-inch M3 omega driver with a 23-inch midrange horn covers the midrange down to 600Hz

In the low frequencies the Trio series can be combined alternatively with the SUB231 subwoofer of the Duo Grosso, the ADRIC horn bass modules of the Duo Mezzo or, in its ultimate configuration, from two up to six Basshorn modules

The transmission of the lower frequencies is handled by the 38-inch low-midrange horn and is driven by a new eightinch L3 omega driver with 16 ohm omega voice coil

Blending in at 4kHz is the 16 ohm one-inch tweeter H3 omega with its seven inch horn

Due to its circular design the Trio Classico satellite has a width of 1.3mm

Its massive 3kg magnet with high magnetic flux density help produce enormous power and authority on the movement of the voice coil with each signal reproduced one by one, exactly to the original

Low-midrange, midrange and the tweeter horn are mounted into circular housing tubes with solid cast aluminium back covers on its back end and a straight three pillar steeltube frame is used to support the horns

Tech Specs

Avantgarde Trio Classico

Frequency Range Satellite

100 - 20,000Hz

Frequency Range Subwoofer

18 - 350Hz

Power Handling

150 Watt

Efficiency (1W/1m)

> 109dB

Crossover Frequencies

100/600/4,000Hz

Nominal Impedance

19 ohm

Recommended Amplifier Power

> 2 watt

Dimensions wxdxh (mm)

1,300x830x1,550

Price USD (~OMR)

62,000 – 157,000 (~ 23,839 – 60,520)

Due to the CDC system, the L3 OMEGA works exclusively within its optimal frequency range and automatically rolls off at the crossover frequencies allowing the use of only one crossover component for seamless integration with the midrange

Newly designed aluminium spacers with knurled head screws connect the frame rails with the housing tubes of the three spherical horns

The entire loudspeaker system is placed on a solid cast aluminium base frame utilising a spike assembly featuring solid 55mm spikes and massive adjusting handles easily accessible from the top

Nov ‘10 / 25

Breathtaking AUDIO Olive’s O6HD has design elements that enhance the listening experience Olive Media, one of the leading HD music server manufacturers, recently debuted its flagship offering, the handcrafted Olive O6HD. The culmination of over five years of design and innovation in the category, this stunning device is every audiophile’s dream. Every design choice on the O6HD was made with purity of sound as a priority. Olive

pioneered the HD music category, matching recording engineers’ golden standard of 24-bit studio recording sound and up to 192kHz sample rate. This offers music lovers an experience that is more than 250 times the resolution of CDs and is as perfect as recorded music can get. The obsession for sound performance behind

The music library has capacity for up to 6,000 CDs in original quality or up to 20,000 High Definition tracks on the O6HD’s internal 2TB hard disk drive, which is cushioned in eight layers of noise-cancelling padding

Olive has chosen a unique fan-less cooling system that further eliminates operating noise

26 / TECH

the O6HD’s design is further evidenced with the unique presence of dedicated power supplies for the analogue and digital components. The highly sensitive analogue section is powered by a dedicated linear power supply with a custom-built ultra-low noise toroidal transformer. A separate AC line filter, with noise attenuation at close to 80dB, reduces noise floor from the start.

A distinctive angled front includes a huge 10.1-inch glass-on-glass colour touch-screen, both of which allow for easy navigation of the music library

The 06HD has a separate temperate-compensated crystal oscillator, with jitter of less than 10 picoseconds after re-clocking virtually eliminates jitter

At the heart of the music server is a fully balanced differential DAC, with a matched pair of TI’s 24-bit/192kHz DAC modules for the inverted and non-inverted signals on each of the right and left channels

The Anti-Vibration Feet play a role in producing sound that is pure, with each foot designed in a two-part, special polymer mould, which allows the chassis to float above its supporting surface and protect it from outside vibrations and resonances that can negatively affect sound performance

With a Signal-to-Noise ratio of 124dB, the sounds reveal all the nuances and subtleties

Tech Specs

06HD

Dimensions (W x H x D)

434x114x356mm

Weight

7.5kg

Analogue Output

1xXLR, 1xRCA, 1x6.4mm stereo Headphone

Digital Output

1xAES/EBU, 1xS/P DIF optical, 1xS/P DIF coaxial cinch

Audio formats supported

WAV, FLAC, MP3 (128 and 320 kbit/s), AAC (128 kbit/s)

Colour touch-screen

10.1’’ wide-aspect ratio 800x480

MSRP (~OMR)

USD 4,999 (~OMR1,922)

More than just a shell, the O6HD’s elegant aluminium enclosure eliminates operational noise and resonances

Nov ‘10 / 27

Gamers’ Arsenal Sennheiser launches a new line of headsets for professional gamers Audio specialist Sennheiser Communications recently introduced a new line of headsets designed primarily for gamers. Heading up the line is the PC 360, followed by the PC 163D and PC 333D. Rounding out the line, the PC 330 G4ME delivers DJ-inspired performance and quality for enthusiasts who take LAN parties as seriously as the professionals.

PC 360 Designed for pro gamers, the Sennheiser PC 360 doesn’t disappoint. Sennheiser Open-Aire speaker technology and a top-notch noise-cancelling microphone deliver the performance that perfectionists seek. The soft ear pads and large ear cups fully cover the ears, and their open design creates a lifelike soundscape by allowing sound waves to expand and contract as they would in nature, and ensures continuous airflow to keep users cool. A quick-access volume control is integrated onto the right ear cup, allowing you to make volume adjustments quickly without breaking your concentration. And to mute the microphone, you just have to raise the boom.

PC 163D Sennheiser Communications’ PC 163D headset is a new dimension in 3D gaming. With the combination of powerful Sennheiser sound and Dolby Headphone technology, you can distinguish aural cues from all directions – not just left and right. The virtual 7.1 channel, 360-degree coverage allows players to hear footsteps behind a wall or detect the opponent’s position. Similar to the PC 360, the PC 163D is equipped with a noise-cancelling microphone. An adjustable boom offers more comfort and flexibility during the game.

28 / TECH

PC 333D Like the previous two, the PC 333D also aims to bring the virtual soundscape alive with 7.1-channel surround sound simulation powered by the same Dolby Headphone technology. The realism of multi-channel audio is not only enhanced by the closed-acoustic design, but also the excellent quality of the speakers. In a fast-paced game, awareness is everything. As such, the PC 333D helps gamers register crucial sounds and gain a better impression of where and how far away opponents are, and which way they are moving. Movie lovers will also appreciate the extraordinary sound which catapults them right into the action. The PC 333D takes gaming and movie experience to a whole new level.

PC 330 G4ME The G4ME has a clever ear-cup design that strikes the balance between immersion and communication. It features closed acoustics, so gamers can completely shut out their surroundings for full-on action. To talk to neighbours directly, just flip up the right ear cup like DJs do in a club. Other convenient features include automatic microphone mute, which, like in the PC 360, is triggered when the boom is raised, and a volume control is built into the right ear cup. The PC 330 also features trademark Sennheiser stereo sound quality and a high-end noise-cancelling microphone that makes it easy to chat uninterrupted online.

Quick Facts

PC 360

PC 163D

Total Cable length

3.5m

2 x 3.5mm

2 x 3.5mm + USB

2 x 3.5mm

300g

200g

255g

15 – 28,000Hz

15–23000Hz

14 – 22000Hz

14 – 22,000Hz

50Ω

32Ω

Sound pressure level

112dB

114dB

112dB

Noise cancelling Mic

Yes

Connector Weight Frequency response Impedance

PC 333D

PC 330 G4ME

Nov ‘10 / 29

Music by magic Parrot offers an extra dimension to sound

The design of the Parrot loudspeakers produces amazing sound and whether you use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, whether you put your mobile phone or your MP3 player next to it, it plays music as if by magic. But what was designed was not just a loudspeaker but vibrating air. These loudspeakers offer an extra dimension created by the vibration, where the air itself comes to life.

The Parrot loudspeakers’ stunning, ultra-modern sculpted shape incorporates advanced technology that delivers an intense and powerful sound with stunning clarity

From Bluetooth to Wi-Fi, the Parrot speakers stand on the cutting edge of the new wireless technology – you can transfer music stored on your PC to the speakers by Wi-Fi and also stream music from your cell phone via Bluetooth

The loudspeaker is a daring blend of design and acoustics and the concept is based on a unique combination of various acoustic technologies, made possible by means of sophisticated digital signal processing (DSP)

The Parrot speakers have been designed for compatibility with the iPhone and the latest generation of iPods and iPod Touch; by placing your device in the docking station built into one of the columns, you can listen to your music while recharging it, and control your speakers and iPhone from the comfort of the sofa using the remote control

Tech Specs

The bottom part of the loudspeaker contains a powerful woofer equipped with a neodymium magnet for maximum power in minimum space and the box interior is reinforced by a metal structure that eliminates distortion

Zikmu Parrot by Stark

Total Power Output

100W RMS, 50W per channel

Frequency Range

50Hz – 20kHz

Compatible Audio Formats

MP3, LPCM

Connectivity

Wi-Fi b/g with SES/WPS, Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR, RCA line-in, iPod dock

Maximum Range

50 feet, 15 metres

Available Colours

Sorbet Lime, Arctic White, Pearl Grey, Classic Black

MSRP in USD (~OMR)

1,600 (~615.200)

30 / TECH

bargain hunter

Realistic sound The speaker package for audio enthusiasts who hate it when people talk during movies The HKTS 11BQ home cinema speaker system combines a ten-inch, 200-watt subwoofer with magnetically shielded, two-way centre channel and satellite speakers. Advanced features include line-level Sub/LFE input, music-sensing on/off and multi-colour LED power indicator.

It includes a 200-watt bassreflex powered subwoofer with a 250mm driver and a subwoofer level control

The HKTS 11BQ 5.1 Home Cinema Speaker System has four identical two-way satellites with Dual 75mm midrange and a 19mm-Dome Tweeter, voice-matched

The speaker system comes with three HDMI and a USB port

Tech Specs

HKTS 11BQ

Frequency Response

System: 25Hz â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 20kHz

Nominal Impedance

8 ohms

Sensitivity

86Db (Satellites and Centre)

Weight

Satellites: 1kg, Subwoofer: 22kg, Centre: 1kg

Dimensions (HxWxD) in mm

Satellites: 243x100x92 Subwoofer: 479x340x340 Centre: 102x241x92

Finish

Black Lacquer

Price

OMR323.000

Available at

Oman Modern Electronics, 24702555

The speaker system comes with a low-pass filter switch and an audio sense turn-on

It has stereo RCA jacks and a dedicated LFE

Nov â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10 / 31

computing

Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s SF and RF notebook series are good on both design and performance

SF310/SF410 The Samsung SF310/SF410 notebook series, with a 14-inch high resolution, wide-screen LED backlit display, delivers one-of-a-kind style and performance. They have a unique, slim and fluidic design, with a streamlined exterior with chrome Deco line accent. They are equipped with an Intel Core i5 Processor, combined with a longer lasting battery. Easy Content Share software, based on AllShare technology, allows you to wirelessly play videos, photos, and music across a full range of DLNA certified Samsung devices, including cameras and handsets.

In the case of sudden loss of power, the notebook is equipped with Samsung Recovery Solution, which automatically creates system restore points on your HDD, allowing you to continue where you left off

It has a Fast Start feature that brings the computer out of advanced sleep mode and into fullworking mode in just three seconds 32 / TECH

The NVIDIA Optimus graphics card delivers all the required multimedia and graphics performance for intense 3D gaming while extending battery life by switching to the internal Intel GPU for more basic applications

The SF310/SF410 has an upgraded Bluetooth 3.0 delivering higher data transmission speeds (24Mbps), eight times faster than Bluetooth 2.1 (3Mbps)

The notebook provides enhanced bass, crystal clear dialogue and better definition control for maximum clarity at high frequency, and with SRS Premium Sound, experience natural and realistic 3D sound

RF510 Samsung’s RF510 is designed to handle multimedia demands. For all needs ranging from storage of large files, editing or viewing of HD movies and pictures, or enjoying the latest in PC gaming, the RF series notebook has it all covered with an Intel Core i5 Processor, 4GB of RAM memory and 1GB graphics card. Upgraded connectivity features help make information shareable, including superfast USB 3.0 ports, Bluetooth 3.0 High Speed, and AllShare.

Similar to the SF series, the RF series of laptops feature Samsung Recovery Solution to improve the stability of the laptop

Optimised for Windows 7, the 1GB dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M offers all the 3D graphics rendering capability that you may require

The RF510 with high resolution, LED backlit LCD display provides sharp images and bold colours, and its widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio ensures that you are able to enjoy the most accurate representation of HD movies and games

The Intel Core i5 Processor (up to Quad Core) delivers unrivalled speed and efficiency, and supported by Intel Intelligent Power Technology and Turbo Boost Technology, it optimises power usage by automatically allocating it where it is needed

The latest USB 3.0 port has been designed to deliver speed, so uploading HD movies will take just seconds, while keeping its compatibility with USB 2.0/1.1 devices

Samsung has combined its latest acoustic technology with SRS Premium Surround Sound to deliver a good audio experience

Tech Specs

SF310

SF410

RF510

Operation System

Windows 7 Home Premium (64b)

Processor

Intel Core i5 460M (2.53GHz, 3MB)

System Memory

4GB DDR3

LCD

13.3” LED HD (1366 x 768)

14.0” LED HD (1366x768)

15.6” LED HD (1366x768)

GPU

nVIDIA GeForce GT 310M

nVIDIA GeForce GT 330M

(512MB GDDR3)

1GB GDDR3)

320GB

500GB

640GB

HDD Available at

SARCO, 24593025 Nov ‘10 / 33

Solid Choice With its use of solid state storage technology, the new MacBook Air defines the next generation of MacBooks

When it comes to speed, stability, reliability and size, solid state hard drives (SSD) are hard to beat. With the unveiling of its all new MacBook Air last month, Apple has become one of the first laptop manufacturers that have replaced the mechanical hard disks and optical drives with Internet services

and solid state flash storage (this is partly due to the increased cost that accompanies said SSD). Available in 11-inch and 13-inch models and weighing as little as 2.3 pounds, the new Air is Apple’s lightest and most portable notebook ever.

The new MacBook Air measures an incredibly thin 0.11 inches at its thinnest point and 0.68 inches at its thickest, weighs just 2.3 pounds for the 11-inch model (2.9 pounds for the 13-inch) and comes with a precision aluminium unibody enclosure

The 1.4GHz 11-inch MacBook Air with 2GB of memory and 64GB of flash storage starts at a MSRP of USD999 and 128GB model for USD1,199; the 1.86GHz 13-inch MacBook Air with 2GB of memory and 128GB of flash storage starts at a MSRP of USD1,299 with a 256GB model available for USD1,599

34 / TECH

Apple’s custom-designed flash storage is 90 per cent smaller and lighter than a conventional notebook hard drive, contributing to MacBook Air’s mobile, featherweight design

Every Mac comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife, Apple’s suite of applications for creating and sharing photos, movies and music

Each unibody enclosure is made of highly recycleable aluminium and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenicfree glass

The built-in battery delivers up to seven hours of usage on a single charge and up to 1,000 recharges and, once depleted, can be replaced by the dealer

Connectivity options include 802.11n Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, two USB ports and an SD card slot

The built-in FaceTime camera, mic and stereo speakers are perfect for video calls with an iPhone 4, iPod touch and other Macs

Apple uses advanced chemistry and Adaptive Charging technology to create a MacBook Air battery that delivers up to seven hours of wireless productivity on a single charge and up to 1,000 recharges

The Air features an 11.6-inch or 13.3-inch high-resolution LED-backlit display and Mini DisplayPort to connect your 27-inch Apple LED Cinema Display, projector or HD TV

Tech Specs

Flash storage combined with powerefficient Intel Core 2 Duo processors and NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics deliver an ideal balance of mobility, battery life and performance

The Air features a full-sized keyboard as well as the same glass Multi-Touch trackpad found on Apple’s MacBook Pro

Macbook Air

Frequency range Satellite

100 - 20,000 Hz

Frequency range Subwoofer

18 - 350 Hz

Power Handling

150 Watt

Efficiency (1Watt/1m)

> 109 dB

Crossover Frequencies

100/600/4,000 Hz

Nominal Impedance

19 Ohm

Recommended Amplifier Power

> 2 Watt

Dimensions w x d x h (mm)

1,300 x 830 x 1,550

Price USD (~OMR)

62,000 – 157,000 (~ 23,839 – 60,520) Nov ‘10 / 35

Logical Advancements Meet the next generation of wireless keyboards from Logitech and a state-of-the-art gaming keyboard from Razer

Keyboards are an integral part of our computing experience. There are a number of factors that can either make or break the success of a keyboard; namely price, ergonomics, quality and features. Logitech

and Razer are two companies that are at the forefront of the keyboard market, though the latter company leans more towards precision gaming equipment. Both companies recently unveiled their latest advancements

in keyboards with Logitech unveiling two new wireless keyboards aimed at casual consumers while Razer revealed its latest gaming peripheral.

dedicated thumb modifier keys and cuttingedge macro capabilities. It gives users the power to instantly use up to seven times more commands and abilities over the current 12 ability keys normally accessible on a standard keyboard. In addition, it also

features over 100 fully programmable keys, on-the-fly macro recording, five additional gaming keys and the ability to customize the key backlighting from over 16mn colours.

Razer Anansi Razerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s latest entry for its MMO Gaming product line, the Anansi, Shares the same successful design philosophy as their bestselling MMO Gaming Mouse, the Naga. This keyboard gives gamers an unparalleled slew of MMO functions and features such as

Easy access media keys

Gaming mode option for deactivation of the Windows key

Over 100 programmable Hyperesponse keys with on-the-fly macro recording

16 million color backlight illumination Five additional gaming keys

36 / TECH

Seven thumb modifier keys allow you to execute seven times more commands instantly

It also utilises Logitech’s tiny Unifying receiver allowing you to easily add compatible Logitech peripherals without the hassle of multiple USB receivers

Like most other wireless keyboards from Logitech, the K800 uses 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity for virtually no delays or dropouts

You can store your keyboard standing up to free up space on your desk

Logitech K800 The first of the two keyboards to be released by Logitech is the K800 – a keyboard that finally brings together backlit keys and wireless technology. Just putting these two together would have been enough to impress the masses but Logitech have taken things a step further and added a number of great features that puts this keyboard right on top of our wish list. For starters, its backlighting automatically adjusts based on the amount of light in the room using ambient light sensors. Motion sensors detect your hands as they approach to turn the backlighting on and to turn it back off when your hands move away. As expected, the keyboard has below average battery life in comparison to other wireless keyboards but is still respectable at up to 10 days of battery life without recharging, especially when you consider the features crammed into it.

Thanks to fast, flexible recharging through micro USB, you’ll never need to deal with wasteful disposable batteries

You’ll also enjoy comfortable, whisperquiet typing with the PerfectStroke key system and durable concave key cap design called Logitech Incurve keys

Logitech K750 As it stands wireless keyboards last quite a while between charges but for those of you that want to reduce battery replacement shenanigans even more, this is the keyboard for you. The wireless solar keyboard powers itself through its integrated solar panel

with absolutely no need for power bricks or charging cables. The included solar power app features a lux meter to help you get the necessary light and makes it easy to get at-a-glance information about battery levels, and even alerts you when you need more

power. The keyboard can even be powered by indoor light and stays charged for at least three months in total darkness. Plus an integrated power-indicator light eliminates surprises.

Like the K800, the K750 also uses 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity and Logitech’s tiny Unifying receiver

The devise also uses Logitech’s exclusive Incurve keys

Tech Specs

Logitech K800

Logitech K750

Razer Anasi

Backlit Keys

Yes (single colour)

Yes (16mn colours)

Interface

2.4GHz wireless

Wired USB

Battery life

~10 Days

~3 months

n/a

Dimensions in mm (L x W x H)

450 x 195 x 26

432 x 157 x 7.5

515 x 190 x 22

MSRP in USD (~OMR)

99.99 (~38.500)

79.99 (~30.750)

99.99 (38.500)

At only 1/3-inch thick, and with its rounded edges and black top, the keyboard is definitely a looker

Nov ‘10 / 37

Extraterrestrial Performance The Alienware M15x may just be the answer to all your gaming needs

Alienware is a brand well known for producing some of the most powerful gaming rigs and laptops in the world and now they are available in Oman. Their laptops come in three models the M11x, M15x and the top-tier M17x. For this review we will put the M15x through its paces and see how good it really is.

Design and aesthetics One glance at the M15x and you know this laptop means business. There are no flashy graphics or bright colours; instead the entire laptop is painted in pure matt black. It is the angular lid and edges, and stunning vent-like speakers that give it its sinister look, akin to the styling of the Lamborghini Reventon. Open her up and you are greeted with a stunning high resolution screen with an edge-to-edge glass pane on top. Just under the screen is a soft-touch keyboard which quite curiously isn’t a full size one with a number pad. Also don’t let its humble rating

as a 15-inch laptop fool you, this is a big and heavy laptop designed to be used as a desktop replacement and not for portability. Its weight is partly due to its chassis being made of anodised aluminium and partly due to its high performance innards. Switch the M15 on and its looks only get better, thanks to the use of an extensive lighting system that can be completely customised, using colours of your choosing, with the included AlienFX lighting effects software. LED lights are used in the two

speaker grills at the front of the laptop, in a ring around the touchpad, the on/off switch above the keyboard, the keyboard itself (which is divided into four zones all customisable individually), the touch strip above the keyboard that takes care of media functions, the ‘Alienware’ logo below the screen and finally, the Alienware logo on the lid of the laptop. But no matter what colours you choose, this is one eye-catching computer and will definitely steal the show at your next LAN party.

Display, Sound and Ports The M15x utilises a 15.6-inch widescreen display that, while not full HD, is still quite a high resolution screen with a native of 1600x900 and is of the LED backlit variety. The colour reproduction and contrast are among the best we have seen and the viewing angles are good too, with brightness and colour alteration occurring at high viewing angles. But inspite of all its goodness it has one marring issue â&#x20AC;&#x201C; reflection and lots of it. These reflections come courtesy of the glass cover on top of the screen and will force you to run the screen at full brightness

in brightly lit areas and when sitting adjacent or opposite to windows. Like most laptop built-in speakers, these too cannot replace a good pair of headsets or desktop speakers but for what they are worth they are surprisingly good. Sounds were crisp and clear enough for day-to-day use and the volume is quite high too, with only the bass being relatively weaker in comparison. Aside from the rather odd omission of an HDMI port, the M15x is well adorned with

ports and connectivity options. The left side features a Kensington lock, DC-in power port, VGA, Gigabit LAN, display port, USB 2.0, Firewire and an 8-in-1 cardreader. The right features an ExpressCard slot, a slot-loading DVD burner, three audio ports, an eSATA/ USB combo port and an additional USB port. You also get WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity.

Performance Seeing as this is a gaming laptop through and through we decided to benchmark it alongside the Asus G51JX that we tested a few months back but we have also included the scores of the standard benchmark laptop, the DV6 3061ee just for your reference. But before we go ahead with the review there are a few things to note. Firstly this is not a direct comparison to the G51JX as the Asus has relatively different specs to the M15x and is priced lower than the M15x. It also offers 3D gaming (the scores of which we will not include in the test) and is available in an alternative model without the 3D facility at a lower price. The G51JX excelled in every test we threw at it but the M15x managed to outdo it. On PC Mark Vantage, 3D mark 2006 and 3D Mark Vantage the system scored 6386, 12050 and 6184 respectively. These are impressive scores for a 15-inch laptop and was a prelude to the gaming performance that was to come. While we tested the games at lower resolution to give you a fairer idea of the performance in comparison to the benchmark machine, it ran them perfectly well even at the screenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s native resolution of 1600x900 without any problems with Stalker and Dirt2 hitting well above 30fps average. Battery life is somewhat secondary in gaming laptops such as this but should not be ignored all together. That said donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect too much life from the battery if you will be gaming hard because more often than not the battery will die in well under two hours. You can extend its life by lowering the load you put on it and run it on power saving mode but in our opinion that defies the point of such a machine. Just plug it into a socket and experience pure gaming bliss.

Available at: Emax, 24558062 40 / TECH

Verdict All-in-all this is a brilliant laptop. Its build quality, workmanship and materials are second to none and its design and looks are in a class of its own. And while the performance cannot match that of a proper gaming desktop, for a 15-inch laptop it is very impressive and should have no

problem handling most games with their graphics set to their highest. We foresee only the most demanding games such as Crysis and Metro 2033 pushing the laptop beyond its capabilities. But even these should be playable on lower settings. Its only real problem is its price. At just under

OMR900.000 the M15x doesn’t come cheap but you get more than your money’s worth in performance and quality and furthermore, you also get a neat textile case, high-end mouse pad and an Alienware cap as a bonus.

B enchma rk Re su lts Gaming Benchmarks Game Resident Evil 5 Demo DX10 (fps) Resident Evil 5 Demo DX10 (fps) Resident Evil 5 Demo DX10 (fps) Stalker Call of Pripyat** (fps) Stalker Call of Pripyat** (fps) Stalker Call of Pripyat** (fps) Dirt 2 (fps) Dirt 2 (fps) Dirt 2 (fps)

Benchmark Settings 1280x720, no AA, All settings low 1280x720, 2x AA, All settings med/low 1280x720, 4x AA, All settings HighStreet 1366x768, no AA, All settings low 1366x768, 2x AA, All settings med 1366x768, 4x AA, All settings High 1366x768, no AA, Settings Preset low 1366x768, 2x AA, Settings Preset med 1366x768, 4x AA, Settings Preset High

Benchmarks Heaven benchmark DX10 (fps) Heaven benchmark DX10 (fps) Heaven benchmark DX10 (fps) PC Mark Vantage Cinebench 11.5 32Bit Cinebench 11.5 64Bit 3D Mark 2001 3D Mark 2003 3D Mark 2005 3D Mark 2006

Benchmark Settings 1366x768, no AA, Settings Preset low 1366x768, 2x AA, 2xAF, Preset med 1366x768, 4x AA, 4xAF, Preset High Default Settings Default Settings Default Settings Default Settings Default Settings Default Settings Default Settings

Alienware M15x *** 116.9 71.5 61.4 127.65 55.525 39.8 90.8 73.8 60.5

HP DV6 3061ee 62.95 47.8 38.6 76.75 34.98 23.38 60.25* 39.9* 24.6*

Asus G51JX 88.8 63.95 55.75 86.51 40.33 24.51 66.6 55.75 46.05

HP DV6 3061ee 25.7 19.6 15.2 5356 CPU: 2.65 / OpelGL: 22.50 CPU: 2.81 / OpelGL: 21.99 29495 21048 13107 7626

Asus G51JX 30.1 22.3 19 5920 CPU: 2.62 / OpelGL: 27.81 CPU: 2.83 / OpelGL: 27.71 33378 25266 16478 10378

Synthetic Benchmarks

Alienware M15x CPU GPU VRAM Display Memory OS HDD

Intel Core i7-720QM nVidia GTX 260M 1GB Dedicated 15.6” HD/LED @ 1600x900 8GB DDR3 Windows 7 Home Premium 500GB

Alienware M15x *** 45.5 33.7 28.5 6386 CPU: 2.78 / OpelGL: 31.57 CPU: 2.98 / OpelGL: 31.18 34132 32748 18065 12050

HP DV6 3061ee CPU GPU VRAM Display Memory OS HDD

Intel Core i7-720QM ATI Radeon HD5650 1GB Dedicated 15.6” HD/LED @ 1366x768 6GB DDR3 Windows 7 Home Premium 640GB

Asus G51JX CPU GPU VRAM Display Memory OS HDD

Intel Core i7-720QM nVidia GeForce GTS 360M 1GB Dedicated 15.6” HD/LED @ 1366x768 4GB DDR3 Windows 7 Home Premium 640GB

Disclaimer: All items were tested in a controlled environment using the latest drivers available at the time of testing. All benchmarks were carried out using the default settings unless specified otherwise. Where specified the results are in ‘frames per second’. This test is not an international standard, and results are not to be compared to any other values except our own. While we use the best methods to maintain accuracy and results, TECH or its parent company cannot be held responsible for brandspecific superiority or even readers’ own choice. For further details of this test on non-competitive basis please send requests to tech@deenarmedia.com * Dirt 2 on the HP DV6 3061ee was tested using DirectX 11 rendering ** The results of Call of Pripyat are an average fps value of four automated tests *** For the purpose of the table the game tests were carried out at lower resolutions than the system display’s native. When run at the native resolution of 1600x900 all games we tested ran at above 30fps; the results for the Dirt 2 test were 75.3, 60.1 and 51.7 respectively from top to bottom. Nov ‘10 / 41

time zone

Freak Show An evolution of the iconic Freak, the Diavolo follows in its predecessor’s footsteps, showcasing unrivaled advancements in technology, materials and design Due to the ultramodern, minimalist and unconventional design of the Freak’s tourbillon carrousel – one that possessed no true dial, crown or hands – and being the first timepiece to successfully present

The Freak Diavolo’s frequency of 4Hz (28’800A/h) in association with its 8mg*cm2 inertia balance wheel make this instrument exceptional, as no other tourbillon is regulated by such a powerful oscillator and benefits from such a long power reserve (more than eight days)

The watch can be wound by turning the lower bezel, and the time can be adjusted by turning the upper bezel; while the direct gear link crafted between the three ‘hands’ averts dephasing, or the throwing of hours, minutes and seconds out of step when adjusting or readjusting time

42 / TECH

escapement wheels constructed of silicium, a revolutionary material at the time, the Freak forever changed the course of haute horology. Now, like its siblings, the Freak Diavolo Rolf 75 pays tribute to the original

Freak’s pioneering spirit by expanding its use of silicium and taking its tourbillon to new heights. Silicium is used in its hairspring and throughout the majority of its escapement – the heart and most delicate part of the watch.

The Freak Diavolo’s seconds indicator is a flying tourbillon replacing the usual oscillator of the other members of the Freak family and its cage is equipped with an arrow indicating the seconds on a yellow half-circle, rotating in one minute on itself

Two specially conceived ball bearing systems enable the ‘flying’ function of the minute movement and of the seconds-indicator tourbillon without the need for a supporting bridge

Tech Specs

Ulysse Nardin Freak Diavolo Rolf 75

Power Reserve

More than eight days, slip-spring

Frequency

4Hz (28â&#x20AC;&#x2122;800A/h)

Moment of Inertia

8mg*cm2, adjusting over four screws

Hairspring

Silicium, exclusive Ulysse Nardin design

Escapement

Right-angle lever, silicium, non lubricated

Tourbillon

1 revolution per minute

Orbite

1 revolution per hour

Case

Platinum, water-resistant

Not only brilliant in function, the Freak Diavolo is also stunning in aesthetic with its clean lines, robust black and charcoal tones, accents of vibrant colour, platinum case and elegant crocodile strap

Its tourbillon carrousel (developed entirely in-house) does one complete rotation around the centre in 60 minutes

This stunning timepiece will only be available in a limited edition of 75 pieces

Nov â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10 / 43

dashboard

Forbidden Technology This is the ultimate race track destroyer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the fastest machine on land and is called the X1

Professional motorsports is one of the most competitive and lucrative environments today. They pit some of the best drivers against each other as they try to push their machines to the very edge of its capability. But no matter what the tier of motorsport, even in formula 1, strict regulation have always kept the 44 / TECH

performance of the vehicles in check, putting the focus more on the drivers rather than the machines. But the questions always remain â&#x20AC;&#x201C; What if there were no regulations? What would the fastest racing car on Earth be, free of these shackles? These are exactly the

questions that Polyphony Digital, the minds behind the venerable Gran Turismo series, set out to answer. Working with world-class racing car constructor Red Bull Racing and aerodynamics expert and racing car design genius Adrian Newey, the result is the starting piece of technological heaven they call the X1 Prototype.

Initial iteration As with all design masterpieces, the Red Bull X1 has been through several iterations. The starting point was a low drag single seat wing car with a glass canopy and covered wheels, powered by a forced induction engine. These qualities remained intact throughout and the result was a startling set of figures; 1,483hp

at 15,000rpm, a top speed of 400kmh and up to 6G of lateral G-force. Just to put this into perspective, a high performance supercar such as an Enzo can achieve in and around 1g of lateral G-force. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Formula 1 cars attain around 3.5G and consequently, the driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head is pulled sideways with a

force equivalent to about 20kg in corners. Such high lateral forces are enough to make breathing difficult and the drivers need supreme concentration and fitness to maintain their focus for the one to two hours that it takes to complete the race.

Nov â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10 / 45

Fan power However this wasn’t enough to satisfy them. So under the expert eye of Newey and driven by his passion to realise the dream, the initial concept then took a big step forward. He proposed the use of ‘Fan Car’ technology - last seen in F1 in the late 70s - where a fan is used to force air out from underneath the car, lowering the air pressure creating a huge amount of downforce. Because it can create downforce regardless of the vehicle’s current speed, it dramatically raises it’s cornering speed even in low speed corners. The incredible ability of fan cars has already been proven in history. The Chaparral 2J fan car entered in the 1970 Can-Nam series was so fast that it was banned after just one season. Even in the F1, the BT46B fan car entered in 1978 by Brabham dominated the opening round of the series with extreme speed, and was banned just after that single race. A redesign of the car showed its value on the track where traditional low speed corners could now be taken at significantly higher speeds. The killer combination of low air resistance due to body styling, glass canopies and full tire cowlings; increased low speed down-force courtesy of the fans; and stability at high speed due to front and rear wings and rear diffuser, brought about an unbeatable result - a maximum lateral G force of 8.25G, pushing the limits for what a normal person’s body can endure, and a top speed of more than 450kmh.

Man and machine What better person to test the capabilities of such a vehicle than one of the world’s most famous F1 drivers Sebastian Vettel. With him behind the wheel and in his very first run on the Suzuka Circuit, he shortened the record time of the course by over 20 seconds. And in the test drive on the Nurburgring GP Course, he marked a record time of 1 minute 4 seconds, drawing out the incredible potential of the X1 Prototype. In fact even on his first run of the Nurburgring GP Course he almost instantly wiped off 20 - 30s from his own lap time in his F1 vehicle. Unfortunately 46 / TECH

this car may never see the light of day outside a concept since it only exists in the virtual world, specifically in the soon-to-bereleased racing simulator Gran Turismo 5 for the PS3 (barring the life size replica of the vehicle that will be showcased at the game’s launch party). Even the record times were achieved in the game and will therefore never be official. The upside though, is that even you can try your hands at cracking Vettel’s time and earn yourself some true bragging rights.

TECH Specs

X1 Prototype

Dimensions (lxwxh)

4750x2180x980mm

Front Track x Rear Track x Wheel Base

1850x1780x2900mm

Weight

Dry Weight: 545kg

Engine

3000cc V6 Twin Turbo (Direct Injection)

Maximum Output

1,483hp @ 15,000rpm

Maximum Torque

714.1Nm @ 12,000rpm

Suspension

Full Active Ride Suspension

Performance Data

0-60mph: 1.4sec 0-120mph: 2.8sec 0-200mph: 6.1sec Maximum Speed: Over 280mph (450kmph+) Maximum Lateral Acceleration: 8.25G at 300kmph

Nov â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;10 / 47

gamer’s delight

Treyarch once again stepped into the developer’s shoes for the new Call of Duty game but does it deliver an explosive experience or is Black Ops a dud? We take the fight online to find out

hen you are talking about the next instalment of the Call of Duty franchise and a successor of the multiplayer behemoth that is Modern Warfare 2 (MW2), it is obvious that expectations will be extremely high. So with such a heavy responsibility on their shoulders, Treyarch, the minds behind World at War, set about to develop Black Ops. The result was one of the best Call of Duty experiences to date.

locations varying from Nam to Russia. The story is immensely complicated and revolves around a biochemical weapon called ‘Nova-6’. While the story doesn’t have any single gut-wrenching and emotionally strong sequence that can come close to the airport sequence of MW2, on a whole it is easily the better of the two. In fact, if you play close attention to the plot you are rewarded with one of the best stories to ever grace a Call of Duty game.

The game’s single player campaign is set in the Vietnam War during the 1960s and begins in an interrogation room. You take the role of the victim of the interrogation, Alex Mason, who has to explain the meaning behind a set of numbers to the interrogators. The problem is, you yourself don’t know what the numbers mean. Like a page taken from Halo ODST’s campaign, what eschews is a series of flashbacks that place you in the shoes of various solders in a number of

In terms of gameplay, little needs to be said about the controls. If you are familiar with MW2, the controls are identical and so is the response, in other words they are spot-on. Also, the game follows a similar pattern to most of the game in the genre – start the mission; complete the objectives as you pass through a mostly linear level; lay waste to everything that tries to stop you. Also, like with most of the games in the series it is fast paced and action packed, keeping you on

48 / TECH

the edge of your seat at every moment with its relentless pace. While this may all sound generic, believe us it doesn’t feel like it. It’s the way that the missions are set up that truly set it apart. The variety of locations you visit, vehicles you drive or pilot, the stunning set-piece moments that you play through and the sheer variation of play styles that you have to adapt to that will keep you hooked till the very end. The graphics won’t disappoint either and are a definitive step-up from the already impressive MW2. The textures are sharp, the effects are stunning, you see a lot more enemies on screen at any one time, is filled with graphic gore and despite all this keeps a steady frame rate throughout. The sound design is also great with good voice-acting, impressive orchestral sound track and some entertaining licensed tracks thrown in for good measure. But let’s face it; a majority of players don’t pick up a COD game to play the campaign, it’s the multiplayer that they want. Even here the game doesn’t disappoint. To be perfectly fair, it would be wrong to call the multiplayer component an entirely new experience, it is more of an evolution of MW2’s multiplayer component. For starters the experience you earn and levels you attain no longer determine the equipment you have access to instead you earn points for nearly everything you do and these points

Publisher: Activision Developer: Treyarch Platform(s): Xbox 360, PS3, DS, Wii Genre: Action ESRB Rating: R/P

SCORE

9.6

The Good Stunning production values, the most comprehensive multiplayer package to date, two free bonus games as extras The Bad

are used to purchase everything you desire, from guns to kill streak rewards. This means that you can get your desired load-out almost immediately. The kill streaks have also been streamlined and some have been removed altogether. Furthermore all the regular game modes from MW2 have made their way into the Black Ops and there are 14 brand new maps. With this alone the game has already matched what MW2 had on offer and should satisfy most players. But Treyarch didn’t stop here; they decided to go all out with this release and added a hoard of new content to this already impressive package. The first of these is the wager mode allows six players to place a bet, with their earned points, that they will place in the top three at the end of the match. Do so and you will be awarded with double your points, fail and you forfeit your bet. This mode has four different match types but every single one of them is engaging and incredibly fun. The next addition sees the return of the four-player Nazi Zombie mode from Treyarch’s last game and features a whole new slew of maps and missions (one in particular truly stands out and is absolutely hilarious but we won’t spoil it for you). There is also a theatre mode that

No vehicles in multiplayer, no co-op campaigh both online and off

allows you to record matches and upload them for everyone to see, similar to what you will find in the Halo titles. Rounding off the primary additions is the Combat Training which allows you and a buddy to go at it offline with bots and prepares you for the harsher more competitive world of online gaming. As if this wasn’t already enough there are two further hidden games available, in the form of the Black Ops Arcade, for those who take the trouble to find them. If you access it you can play the full version of Zork or an entirely new game called Dead Ops Arcade, or simply DOA. This top-down action game will have you laying waste to wave after wave of zombies, all the while earning cash and upgrading your weapons. This is a full-fledged game that most would have to pay real cash online to download but comes packaged in with Black Ops as an added extra. We have only two complaints about Black Ops – the first is the lack of vehicles altogether in the multiplayer despite their prominence in the campaign and the seconds is the absence of a co-op campaign. All things considered, Black Ops is by far the most comprehensive package, not just in the Call of Duty franchise, but of any franchise to date and is well worth the asking price. This is one game you should not miss, especially if you are a fan of FPSs.

Nov ‘10 / 49

Going back to its roots and with Criterion, makers of the Burnout series, at its helm, the latest Hot Pursuit will definitely fuel your need for speed and destruction

he Need for Speed (NFS) franchise has consistently diverted from the original design with the release of every new game. It has long since fallen from grace and now sits as a middleâ&#x20AC;&#x201C; tier arcade racing game, falling in the shadow of franchises like Blur, Split-second and Burn out. Despite this, expectations were high for the revival of the Hot Pursuit, quite possibly the best Need for Speed game to date. But Criterion was up to the challenge and has delivered with style, releasing a game that harkens back to the old school Need For Speed games that we know and love. The game itself takes place in the fictional yet visually stunning Seacrest County. With no real story to follow, the game is all about the races and the chases. You play as either a cop or a racer with each following a separate set of events that caters to their respective play styles. These events include straight forward races, hot pursuit events, dual and

interception mode (pitting a racer against a cop) and finally preview events, which let you try out some of the higher tier cars before you unlock them. Each event is selected from an overhead map and follows a predetermined route. While the routes in races may be fixed, on a whole they are all interconnected and you can freely roam all over Seacreast County with any of the cars you have unlocked. The car selection itself rounds off at 100 cars and is split evenly between cops and racers and no customisation options are available aside from choice of colour. As you win races, and based on your driving style, you are awarded exp that goes towards

50 / TECH

unlocking cars specific to that class and increasing your level, which in turn unlocks more class specific races and weapons. As for the latter, both sides have deployable spike strips and EMPs available to them. Racers have access to jammers and a turbo function. The cops on the other hand can call in road blocks and helicopters for backup. No matter the perk, the number of uses is always limited forcing you to use them sparingly and makes the chases much more frantic and fun. For the most part, anyone familiar with the Burnout series should be perfectly at home with the way Need for Speed Hot Pursuit plays. The controls are simple and responsive

Publisher: EA Developer: Criterion Games Platform(s): Xbox 360, PS3 Genre: Driving ESRB Rating: R/P

SCORE

9.0

The Good Great visuals and sound design, Autolog, Hot Pursuit like we know and love but with burnout gameplay The Bad

and follow a similar controller layout to the Burnout games. Also takjing inspiration from the same, the tracks feature numerous shortcuts and alternate routes. The game even takes the same cinematic approach to the gameplay, shifting to a stylish camera and an accompanying slo-mo effect to admire your take-downs. But despite all these similarities this isn’t a simple copy of the Burnout games. There are quite a few changes that give it its own identity. For starters, the game forces you to be more tactical when using the nitro boost for racers, which is obtained by driving dangerously. Simply pressing the boost button will only get you so far, rationing it for uphill climbs, exiting corners and overtaking manoeuvres is a lot more effective. Also cops, having to uphold the law, earn their boost by simply driving really fast and inherently use it more for ramming racers into takedowns than for overtaking and speed. Furthermore, not all of the aforementioned shortcuts and alternate routes are viable options to save seconds from your time. Some of these are simply present as a way to dodge the trailing cops while others rough gravel roads, thus significantly slowing down some of the lower riding cars. This forces you to learn the tracks and adapt your route based on the presence of cops and the car you are driving. Online races follow similar modes to what you find in the career such as eight-player races, hot pursuit matches where players are split between cops and racers and the interceptor events which is perfect for those 1v1 bouts with friends. One excellent aspect of the game is that the experience carries over between the single and multiplayer events allowing you to use the cars you have unlocked in the multiplayer and vice versa. But the best online features isn’t the racing or the experience,

Missing the stunning in-car view from shift, no Ferraris in the game

it’s the Autolog. It is an innovative system that keeps you constantly competing with friends regardless of whether you are racing online or playing the career, constantly notifying you every time one of your friends beats your time in an event. Topping individual leader

boards of these events again nets you bonus experience. The Autolog has a wall where friend’s times are updated and pictures can be posted and comments left. The system also suggests more friends for you to add helping you build up a rather large community, should you choose to do so. The visuals are also top-class. The environments are stunning to behold and we guarantee you will spend quite some time just free-roaming to check out the scenery. The game has some amazing weather effects and even a day and night cycle, which primarily comes into play when free-roaming. The cars themselves are not exactly the best you will find in a game and the damage they sustain during collisions is minimal but on a whole they are

impressive as well. Another nice touch from Criterion are the cars that populate the game world; they are all licensed real-world cars and not mock-ups like you find in most similar games. Despite all these visual effects, sharp textures and smooth reflections on the cars, the game still runs at a consistent frame rate with absolutely no hiccups. Sound design is equally impressive with thundering collisions, hair-raising engine sounds and a soundtrack that is, for lack of a better word, perfect for the game. There is only one thing that we can complain about in terms of visuals – the

insanely impressive cockpit view from Shift is sadly MIA in Hot Pursuit. Going back to Hot Pursuit’s roots was a smart move by Criterion and by combining the core ideology of the original Hot Pursuit with the gameplay and visuals of Burnout, they have created one of the best arcade racers on the market today. In fact we can summarise this entire review in just three simple words – NFS is back.

Nov ‘10 / 51

Game Release Calendar December 2010

December 01 The Sly Collection

Dead Nation

Publisher: SCEA Developer: Sanzaru Games Platform(s): PS3 Genre: Action ESRB Rating: R/P

Publisher: SCEA Developer: Housemarque Platform(s): PS3 Genre: Action ESRB Rating: R/P

December 02 Golden Sun: Dark Dawn Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Camelot Software Planning Platform(s): DS Genre: Action ESRB Rating: R/P

December 07 World of Warcraft: Cataclysm Publisher: Blizzard Developer: Blizzard Platform(s): PC Genre: RPG ESRB Rating: R/P

52 / TECH

December 03 BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Publisher: Zen United Developer: Arc System Works Platform(s): PS3, Xbox 360 Genre: Fighting ESRB Rating: Teen

Donkey Kong Country Returns Publisher: Nintendo of America Developer: Retro Studios Platform(s): Wii Genre: Action ESRB Rating: Everyone

dvd review

Every bit as good as its predecessor

DECEM B ER A perfect mix of humour, action and chemistry, the sequel is every bit as good as its predecessor, Iron Man. But the mix of a few top actors sets Iron Man 2 on a different platform. Six months after the end of the first movie, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) of Stark Industries uses his Iron Man armour to bring about peace in the world. With the world now aware of his dual life, Stark faces pressure from the government to share his technology with the military. Unwilling

Mickey Rourke, another brilliant actor, plays the role of Ivan Vanko, a Russian physicist. With his weapon known as the Whiplash, his presence in the movie takes Iron Man 2 to a new level of seriousness. Need anything be said about Rourke’s acting since his amazing comeback in mainstream Hollywood circles in 2005 with the lead role in Sin City and his Golden Globe Award-winning performance in The Wrestler in 2008? It rocked, with every lash of his whip. And not forgetting the pirate-like Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) of S.H.I.E.L.D. Although Jackson doesn’t appear in the movie for more than

DVD RELEASES Inception 6 December Action | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Shrek 4: Forever After 6 December Animation | Comedy

Twilight Saga: Eclipse 6 December to let go of his invention, Stark, along with Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), and James ‘Rhodey’ Rhodes (Don Cheadle) at his side, must forge new alliances – and confront powerful enemies. With that said, Iron Man 2, with the presence of Pepper Potts’ new secretary Natalie Rushman (Scarlett Johansson), brings chemistry onscreen. Don’t go expecting friction between the two ladies, though. Johansson is not the only new mix in this movie directed by Jon Favreau (Happy Hogan).

Drama | Fantasy | Romance

The Expendables 10 or 15 minutes, he becomes responsible for saving Iron Man’s life. Downey Jr’s and Paltrow’s acting begins where they left off in Iron Man – thanks to the seamless direction. Conclusion: A must-watch for fans of superhero movies, who will also want to watch the next in the series.

13 December Action | Adventure | Thriller

Jonah Hex 27 December Action | Drama | Thriller

Nov ‘10 / 53

home zone

F o r yo u r

home

The latest in blenders, food processors and other small domestic appliances just to make your life easier

P h i l i p s S t e a m I r o n G C 4 4 91

OMR32.900

The Vertical Steam Iron, as the name implies, can produce steam while held in an upright position, allowing you to steam curtains or clothes on the hanger.

The Drip-Stop system lets you iron delicate fabrics at low temperatures without having to worry about stains from water droplets

The GC4991 is a powerful iron that comes with the most robust, scratch-proof, highly durable Anodilium soleplate

This Steam Iron gives a powerful performance with the 2,400W output power for 40g steam

It has a unique steam tip that combines a particularly pointed front of the soleplate with special elongated steam slots in the tip, to reach right into the smallest and most difficult areas

It is also suitable for using with tap water with a 350ml water tank capacity

B l a c k & D e c ke r F o o d P r o c e s s o r F X 8 0 0

OMR30.900

Food processors normally have multiple functions, depending on the placement and type of attachment or blade – slicing/chopping vegetables, grinding meat, shredding cheese or mixing and kneading dough. The FX800 offers every one of these features and more.

This Black & Decker Food Processor comes with a 2.3L processing bowl that meets the need of a large family and a 1.7L blender for processing a variety of ingredients

Stainless steel slicing and chopping blades are available, along with coarse and fine grating blades for hard cheeses, carrots and other food items 54 / TECH

The FX800 also comes with a ‘Whisk’ attachment for beating liquid ingredients and a ‘Dough’ attachment for kneading operations

With 800W of power it can tackle the toughest of jobs

It has three-speed and pulse function for processing different ingredients

There is a storage rack for safe and tidy storage of the blades

P h i l i p s B l e n d e r HR 2 0 9 4

OMR35.500

For the perfect crushing and blending, it comes with long-lasting serrated blades

Blenders are used in home and commercial kitchens, especially to mix and crush ice in juices, and also to make smooth purees of semi-solid ingredients, such as cooked vegetables and meat. The Philips Aluminium Collection Blender HR2094 has a 2L capacity glass jar and features a 750W engine that can handle just about anything – from fruits and vegetables to ice

The filter in the blender ensures clear juice without seeds and pips

The blender is easy to clean with the detachable blade unit

The blender has a variable speed control with illuminated display – with buttons marked Smoothie, for making the perfect smoothie, and Ice, for crushing ice

We s t i n g h o u s e Tr i o B r e a k f a s t S e t W KC P N E 0 3

OMR18.900

The Westinghouse Trio Breakfast Set has a coffee maker, a two-slice toaster and a cordless water kettle. The 1.25L Coffee maker has a non-drip valve and comes with an on/off switch with pilot light The two-slice toaster has a 32mm wide mouth slot with a built-in bun warmer, a crumb tray and cord storage

The coffee maker also has a semi-transparent water tank with a water level window

The toaster also has a defrost, reheat and cancel button

The 1.7L Cordless Water Kettle has a replaceable water filter and is fitted with STRIX thermo control

With an external water level indicator and an on/off switch with pilot light, this water kettle also has cord storage facility

Nov ‘10 / 55

business TEcH

Portable power Lightweight band saw with a high performance level The Makita BPB180Z portable band saw is extremely lightweight at 6.4kg and can cut a wide range of materials. It can be used for thin metals, plastic and wood. It is also equipped with a skyhook to keep it within easy reach when not in use. The BPB180Z is a cordless model powered by an 18V Lithium-Ion battery.

The Makita BPB180Z is a variable speed tool with a speed preset dial that offers extreme speed control. The dial allows the operator to adjust the blade speed to suit the work-piece material or set the desired finish. There are six different speed settings to choose from and the range lies between 275 and 530 feet per minute.

Tech Specs Capacity

BPB180Z

Round workpiece Diameter – 120mm Rectangular workpiece without stand – 120x120mm

Blade Speed

1.4-2.7m/min

Dimensions

523x231x313mm

Net Weight

6.4kg

Voltage

18V

Available at

Gulf Services & Industrial Supplies, 24811238

56 / TECH

This cordless band saw has an adjustable foot. This helps to provide additional support so that you can cut materials accurately. The adjustable foot will also help protect the material that you’re working with. And the tool body is protected by a rubber bumper.

The BPB180Z has beam function and on pulling the switch trigger the light turns on before the motor runs, and it remains illuminated for 12 to 13 seconds after the trigger release. Fitted with two integrated LED lights, they help illuminate the work area. Also, the lights are designed to match with your line of cut so you can see it clearly. The battery cartridge is positioned directly above the tool’s centre of gravity, enabling a perfectly accurate straight cut.

Fax to 24693569

Choose the correct answer and send in your entries for a chance to win

1. Which of the following terms is a ‘browser’?

2. What kind of file does ‘.BAK’ usually refer to?

(a) Netscape (c) Launcher

(a) Audio file (b) Backup file (c) Animation/Movie file (d) MS Word Document

(b) World Wide Web (d) e-mail

3. What do the initials GUI stand for? (a) General User Interface (b) General User Interaction (c) Graphical User Interface (d) Growing Universal Interface

4. What company is the largest producer of computer software for the personal computer? (a) Apple (c) Oracle

(b) Microsoft (d) Activision Blizzard

Previous quiz answers: 1 – (a) 2 – (d) 3 – (b) 4 – (d)

Please send us your entries by 24th of December for a chance to win a SAMSUNG DVD-C360. Gift courtesy of EMax

Name ___________________________________ Age ______ Mobile ________________________ Email ____________________________________

Last month’s winner:

Occupation _______________________________

Syed Yasser Ahmed

Company _________________________________

wins his Spectra 300

Employees and family members of Deenar Press and Publishing and Emax cannot participate in the quiz. Judge’s decision is final. Please email the answers to tech@deenarmedia.com or fax this page to 24693569 by the deadline. Correspondence after the deadline will not be entertained. PLEASE WRITE CLEARLY. Incomplete or illegible entries will be disqualified. Winner must provide valid ID to claim the prize. Allow up to two weeks to process.

Welcome to our ‘TECH Favourites’ section. With these lists we aim to keep you updated with our favourite products in a concise format. Please give us your feedback on the basis of which we can further improve it. EW

pdated

Flat-Panel Displays LG 42LE5500 OMR680.000

This is a 42-inch, full HD, 2MP, LED TV with wireless AV link. It sports four HDMI inputs, Bluetooth and Net Cast.

Philips 46PFL9704 OMR1205.000

Besides the excellent design, this 46-inch LED TV is known for its ‘Ambilight’ technology. It supports various types of multimedia playback and has a three-way hybrid tuner that supports CI+ encryption.

Sharp LC52LE820M OMR1399.000

This is a 2MP RGB LED screen with full HD 1080p 52-inch LED TV. It has four HDMI/PC inputs and supports USB DIVX HD.

Sharp LC60A77M OMR1359.000

This 60-inch LCD television has a full-HD panel and a pure black filter that reproduces deeper black. It also has STS TruSurround, bass enhancer and RGB backlight system.

Sony KLV40EX700 OMR499.900

This is a 40-inch, full HD, 2MP, edge-lit LED display with 100Hz motion flow. It sports four HDMI inputs, a USB port, P.I.P and Internet TV.

3D TVs LG 55LX9500 OMR1899.900

3D LED 55-inch screen, THX certified display, Wireless HD streaming, Magic Wand remote control, Internet enabled

Samsung PS63C7000 OMR2099.000

3D Plasma 63-inch screen, Dolby Digital Plus, SRS Theatre Sound, Real Black Filter, motion judder canceller

Panasonic TH-P50VT20M OMR1499.000

3D Plasma 50-inch screen, full HD, four HDMI/PC input, THX surround sound, 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio

Samsung UA40C7000WR OMR899.000

3D full HD 40-inch display, two megapixels, Hyper Real Engine, Eco Sensor, four HDMI/PC inputs

Players Sony DAV-DZ910 OMR 194.900

HDMI Up-Scaling, Wireless Rear speaker, supports DVD, VCD, CD, MP3 and DIVX

Panasonic DMP-BD45 OMR74.900 Sony KLV46NX700 OMR999.900

This is a 2MP, full HD 46-inch edge-lit LED TV with 120Hz motion flow. It has four HDMI inputs, Internet TV, Wi-Fi, USB port and P.I.P.

Blu-Ray, DVD, CD player, full HD, SD Card Reader, Dolby Digital, Optical Output

LG HB954TBW OMR319.900

Full HD 1080p, Wireless Rear speaker, Blu-Ray playback, supports DVD, VCD, CD, MP3 and DIVX

Panasonic THP-50U20M OMR535.000

This is a 2MP, full HD 50-inch TV with a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1 and 600Hz sub-field drive. It has three HDMI inputs and an SD card slot.

Samsung UA32C5000 OMR359.000

This is a 32-inch LED TV with a stunning picture quality and a 1080p display. It has two Dolby Digital and DTS decoders for a lush soundscape and includes four HDMI inputs.

Samsung 3D HT-C5550W OMR280.000

Full HD 1080p, Blu-Ray playback, supports DVD, VCD, CD and MP3, Wireless Rear Speaker NB: Due to the ever changing world of technology, prices quoted in the magazine maybe subject to change on a weekly basis. Please check with your local dealer for updated costs of your favourite gadgets.

Netbooks & Ultra Portables HP ENVY 14-1188ee OMR609.900

Laptops

Intel Core i7 720QM processor, 1.6GHz with Turbo Boost up to 2.8GHz, 6GB SDRAM, 1,024MB VRAM, 500GB HDD, 14.5-inch HD LCD, DVD super multi drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 digital media reader, 1.3MP web camera

Dell Inspiron 5010-0089 OMR439.900

Intel Core i5 430M processor, 2.4GHz CPU speed, 6GB RAM, 640GB HDD, 15.6-inch HD WLED screen, DVD super multi drive, Blu-Ray disc ROM, Wireless, Bluetooth, 8-in-1 digital media reader, 1.3MP web camera

HP Pavilion dV6-3060 OMR545.000

Intel Core i7 720QM processor, 1.6GHz CPU speed, 6GB DDR3 SDRAM, 1,024MB VRAM, 640GB HDD, 15.6-inch full-HD LCD, DVD super multi drive, Blu-Ray ROM, Wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 digital media reader, 1.3MP web camera

HP Pavilion dV8-1290ee OMR697.900

Intel Core i7 720QM processor, 1.6GHz CPU speed, 6,144MB DDR3 SDRAM, 1,024MB VRAM, 1TB Dual HDD, 18.4-inch full-HD LCD, DVD super multi drive, Blu-Ray ROM, Wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 digital media reader, 1.3MP web camera

Asus G51J OMR799.900

Intel Core i7 720QM, 1.6GHz Turbo Boost, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 640GB HDD, 1GB VRAM, 15.6-inch HD Glare LED, DVD multi drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera

Samsung NP-R590-JS02AE OMR509.000

Intel Core i7 620M, 2.66GHz CPU speed, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 640GB HDD, 15.6-inch HD WLED screen, DVD super multi drive, Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, 1GB VRAM, 1.3MP web camera

Toshiba Satellite P500-1F7 OMR655.000

Intel Core i7 7400M processor, 2.8GHz CPU speed, 4GB RAM, 1GB VRAM, 1,280GB HDD, 18.4-inch TrueBrite HD LED screen, Wireless LAN, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera

Toshiba QOSMIO F60-12D OMR625.000

Intel Core i7 740QM Processor, 1.73GHz CPU speed, 6GB DDR3 RAM, 1GB VRAM, 640GB HDD, 15.6-inch HD LED screen, DVD Blu-Ray, Wireless, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera

Packard Bell TM86-JO-103AC OMR314.900

Intel Core i5 430M processor, 2.26GHz CPU speed, 4GB DDR2 RAM, 500GB HDD, 15.6-inch HD LED LCD, DVD super multi DL drive, Wireless, Bluetooth, 5-in-1 card reader, 1.3MP web camera

Sony Vaio VPCEA26FA OMR449.900

Intel Core i5 520M processor, 2.40GHz CPU speed, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD, 14-inch screen, DVD super multi DL drive, ATI RADEON HD 5650 Graphics (1GB), Wireless, Bluetooth

Dell 1012-SAM-0055 OMR138.500

Intel Atom N450 processor, 1.66GHz CPU speed, 1GB RAM, 250GB HDD, 10.1-inch TFT

Asus 1201N OMR199.900

Intel Atom processor, 1GB DDR2 RAM, 250GB HDD, 12.1-inch LED display, Bluetooth, 1.3MP web camera

HP TM2-2090 OMR459.900

Intel Core i3 processor, 3GB DDR3 SDRAM, 320GB HDD, 12.1-inch HD LED HD screen, 512MB VRAM

Sony Vaio VPC-CM126AG/L OMR219.900

Intel Atom processor, 2GB RAM, 320GB HDD, 10.1-inch WXGA LCD, 3-in-1 card reader

LG X200L-AGL4E1 OMR189.900

Intel Atom N450 processor, 1.66GHz CPU speed, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, 10.1-inch screen

Computer Accessories WD My Book Essential External HD OMR67.900

Customisable e-label, automatic, visual backup, password protection, high-performance FireWire 800 interface

Life Cam HD6000 OMR29.900

720p HD-quality video at 30fps, auto focus, TrueColour Technology, Notebook design with 360 degree lens rotation

Creative HS-1200 Wireless Headset OMR49.900

Virtual surround headset, response range of 20Hz to 20kHz, USB rechargeable battery

Linksys Router WRT610N OMR75.900

Simultaneous Dual-N Band Wireless Router, WEP, WPA and WP2 security features, three internal antennas for each 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio band

GoFlex 1.5TB Portable Drive OMR119.900

Seagate launched the latest FreeAgent GoFlex 1.5TB portable drive, obtained by increasing the capacity of the platters â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 375GB per platter

Camcorders Leica DLUX-4 OMR296.900

Cameras

The D-Lux 4 is a premium compact digital camera featuring a new 10-megapixel sensor with more light-sensitive area on each pixel, a 24 – 60mm wide-angle optical zoom lens, and RAW shooting capability.

Sony DSC-W390 OMR112.900

This is a 14-megapixel, three-inch LCD camera with 5x optical zoom. It comes with a BIONZ processor and the Sweep Panorama and self-portrait feature. It captures HD video at 30fps and has an Intelligent Auto mode.

Canon IXUS-130 OMR89.900

This is a 14.1-megapixel, 4x optical zoom camera. It comes with a 2.7-inch LCD screen. It has a 28mm wide angle HD movie capture capability.

Canon IXUS-300HS OMR142.900

This is a 10-megapixel, three-inch LCD camera with 3.8x optical zoom. It comes with an optical image stabiliser and a back-illuminated CMOS sensor. The camera also has a Smart Auto and Smart Shutter mode.

Olympus mju8000 OMR144.900

The MJU8000 is shockproof, waterproof and freeze proof. It comes with a 12MP sensor, a 3.6x wide angle lens and a 2.7-inch LCD screen. It is compact and more robust than the previous models in the Olympus range.

Olympus SP-800UZ OMR169.900

This is a 14.1-megapixel, three-inch LCD camera with 30x optical zoom. It comes with an Intelligent Auto mode. Taking and sharing photos is easier with the new Photo Surfing tool and the [ib] software.

Samsung ST1000 OMR134.900

This has built-in GPS, GEO Tagging technology, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The camera has a recycling bin, preventing the accidental deletion of photos. It has a 5x optical zoom lens with a resolution of 12 megapixels.

Samsung ST550 OMR119.900

JVC GZ-HD500 OMR269.900

200x digital zoom, CMOS optical sensor, Built-in lens shield, face detection, Dolby digital AC-3 recording

Sony HDR-XR550 OMR509.900

12 megapixel resolution, 10x optical zoom, Exmor R CMOS sensor, 240GB HDD, Image Stabiliser, 3.2-inch LCD screen

Canon LEGRIA HFM36 OMR339.000

8GB dual flash memory, relay recording, easy HD shooting, 2.7-inch touch-screen LCD, Dynamic OIS and Powered IS

Sony Bloggie MHS-PM5K OMR89.900

5MP resolution, CMOS sensor, three-inch LCD screen, HD Video 1920x1080, built-in USB, 270 degree swivel lens

Sanyo VPC-CG10 OMR69.900

10.66 megapixel resolution, optical zoom, auto focus, built-in flash, CMOS sensor, three-inch LCD screen

DSLRS & Micro Four-Thirds Sony A550 OMR399.900

14.2 megapixel, quick auto focus live view, Smile Shutter technology, dual media slots, three-inch LCD screen

Nikon D300S OMR639.900

12.3 megapixel, CMOS image sensor, 51-point auto focus, three-inch super-density VGA LCD monitor

The ST550 has an LCD screen on the front and the back. There is a face recognition feature that can recognise up to 20 faces and a touch and tilt mechanism for rotating a picture.

Canon EOS 1D Mark 4 OMR2329.900

Sony TX5 OMR160.900

Canon EOS 50D OMR529.900

Panasonic TZ10 OMR180.000

Olympus EPL1 OMR399.900

This is a 10.2-megapixel, three-inch wide touch-screen with 4x optical zoom. It comes with iSweep Panorama Mode and has ‘Exmor R’ sensor. Its airtight construction is waterproof up to 10ft.

Ideal for anyone looking for extra zoom power in a small camera, it comes with a 12x zoom lens and has manual exposure settings, aperture and shutter priority. GPS technology is built-in.

16.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, 10fps shooting, three-inch Clear View LCD, HD video recording

15.1 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 processor, three-inch Clear View VGA LCD, HDMI connection

2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD, computerised focalplane shutter, interchangeable lens system

Phones Samsung I9000 Galaxy S OMR249.900

Samsung’s latest smartphone is Android-powered and boasts of an AMOLED touch-screen. It includes a 5MP camera with autofocus, HSDPA Internet connectivity, and 8GB storage. It supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS.

Motorola Milestone OMR199.000

Milestone has a full QWERTY keyboard with five-way navigation keys, multi-touch, high resolution screen. It is a smartphone that is Android-powered, with a 5MP camera with dual flash.

Nokia N900 OMR175.900

iPod Docks JBL ON TIME OMR97.000

iPod dock, back light display, AM/FM radio, Aux input, bass control

Logic3 iStation Studio OMR49.900

iPod dock, 40W RMS, Line-in connection, AM/FM radio, clock display

Logitech Pure – Fi dream OMR95.900 Bass and treble controls, alarm clock, AM/FM radio, integrated audio amplifiers, two speakers, built-in LCD display

With a touch-screen and full QWERTY keypad, this mobile sports a 5MP camera, a dual LED flash, 32GB storage, 256MB RAM and a 600MHz processor. It also supports Wi-Fi and 3G.

Bose Sound Dock-10 OMR249.900

Acer NeoTouch S200 OMR239.900

iHome Studio Series OMR89.900

With a 3.8-inch TFT resistive touch-screen, the mobile comes with internal memory of 256MB RAM and 512MB ROM. It includes a 5MP camera with autofocus and LED flash. It supports Bluetooth, v2.1 with A2DP.

iPod and iPhone dock, recharge and play, remote control, audio input

Speakerphone stereo system for iPhone/iPod, features Bongiovi Acoustics Digital Power Station, Class-D amplifier technology

Samsung S8500 Wave OMR169.900

The Wave is the first mobile handset to be released on the Samsung’s new, open mobile platform, Samsung Bada. It offers super AMOLED display, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 1GB storage and a 5MP camera.

Samsung SGH S5620 OMR74.900

With A-GPS support, the handset is filled with additional features like the one-finger zoom, accelerometer sensor, image editor, a 3.2MP camera, geo-tagging and smile detection. Video recording is also possible.

Sony Ericsson U10i Classic OMR122.900

This smartphone sports an 8MP camera, three-inch touch-screen with a resolution of 240x432 pixels. In addition, it has Wi-Fi, A-GPS, 3G support and stereo Bluetooth.

Sony Ericsson Vivaz Pro U8 OMR148.900

This phone sports a 3.2-inch touch-screen. It sports a 5MP camera and comes with internal memory of 256MB RAM and 512MB ROM. It also supports Bluetooth, WLAN, GPS, A-GPS and Geotagging.

Sony Ericsson X10 Mini Pro (U201) OMR149.900

This smartphone sports a 5MP camera with auto focus, QWERTY keypad, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. This phone runs on Android OS 1.6 and has a 600MHz processor.

Nokia NK C6 OMR135.000

The Nokia C6 comes with 3.2-inch AMOLED ClearBlack capacitive touchscreen, runs Symbian 3.0 OS. It sports an 8MP full focus camera and supports Bluetooth 3.0.

MP3 Players Creative Zen Mozaic EZ300 OMR32.900

4GB, 1.8-inch video screen, built-in FM radio, voice recorder, picture viewer, built-in speaker

Apple iPod Nano 5G OMR89.900

16GB, VoiceOver gesture-based screen reader, 1.54-inch (diagonal) colour TFT display, Live Pause feature

Sony Zappin NWZ-W252 OMR36.900

2GB, high speed connectivity, built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, water-resistant

Apple iPod Touch OMR99.900

8GB, 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen, multitouch display, 720p HD video capture, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR

Creative Zen X-Fi2 OMR69.900

16GB, flash memory, audio enhancements, expandable memory, touch-screen user input mode, charges via USB port

Air Conditioners Whirlpool AMD-333 OMR139.900

This 1.5-ton capacity split air conditioner is a super tropical model that can withstand temperature up to 52 degree Celsius. It comes with a LED on the front panel.

Samsung AS18UU OMR185.500

Samsung’s latest 1.5-ton capacity split air conditioner is best known for its antivirus plasma filter and silver nano health system.

General ASG18-HTR OMR253.900

This 1.5-ton split air conditioner comes with a Blue Fin coated condenser, silver nano health system, hyper tropical compressor, deo air filter and a plasma pure filter.

Samsung AWT18WHBM OMR118.500

Refrigerators LG GR-762-DEPF OMR288.900 760l capacity, double doors, frost free, tempered glass shelves, multi air flow

Toshiba GRY-60UD OMR199.900 580l capacity, double doors, frost free, hybrid plasma, twist ice tray, adjustable insulated wired shelves

Samsung RR82WE+RZ80EE OMR589.500 620l capacity, digital display and control, child lock, double doors, BRITA filtered water dispenser

Samsung RS22HKNTS1 OMR469.500

Samsung’s 1.5-ton window air conditioner with a rotary compressor has a digital temperature control, anti-corrosion body, fuzzy logic feature and a silver nano health system.

620l capacity, LED lights, twin cooling, nano silver anti bacteria filter, multi air flow system

Panasonic CS/CUC18KKF OMR197.900

382l capacity, double doors, frost free, nano deodoriser, twist ice tray, insulated wired shelves

With power cooling at 55 degree Celsius, this 1.5-ton capacity air conditioner has a Blue Fin coated condenser and an Eco sensor/ plasma filter.

LG E2463PP OMR370.900

This is a two-ton capacity Art Cool air conditioner with a three-way air flow system. It comes with a slim design and a picture panel frame.

Electrolux ESSD-18 OMR127.900

This 1.5-ton window air conditioner has a reciprocating compressor with a digital temperature control and smooth air flow. It also has washable filters.

Hitachi RAN-209CP OMR132.900

This 1.5-ton window air conditioner has a high energy-efficient compressor with a super quite air flow. There is a symmetric twin flow air discharge, washable filters and a rotary compressor.

Toshiba RAS-18SKP OMR198.900

With a compact design and precise operation, Toshiba’s SKP series has a seven-layer air filter that cleans pollutants from the air. It operates at an extremely low 20 decibels in quiet mode.

Sanyo SA186M5 OMR116.900

Sanyo’s 1.5-ton window air conditioner is a low noise design with a rotary compressor and comes with an anti-bacteria filter. It is easy to clean and allows smooth air flow.

Offers

Service

Sharp SJK42SSL OMR149.900

Washing Machines Whirlpool AWG-5061M OMR131.500

5kg capacity washer, 10 programmes/600rpm, no-spin option, rinse hold option, temperature selection

Toshiba AW-SD150SB OMR185.900

13kg capacity, six wash programmes, memory option, digital display, water level selection, hydro twin power

Panasonic NAF-11TY OMR166.400

11kg capacity top load washer, eight programmes, foam wash, fuzzy logic, Aqua Beat technology

LG WD-12396TDK OMR147.900

7kg capacity, 13 programmes, 1,200rpm, direct drive motor, child lock, no spin option

Samsung WD8704 OMR274.500

8kg washer, 5kg dryer, 11 programmes, 1,400rpm, silver wash, air wash, delay start, child lock

Emax

Microwaves & Ovens Samsung CQV513S OMR184.500

A 36l oven with 800W microwave output power and 1,540W grill power, Samsung’s latest family-size combi steam oven has six power levels for cooking. It also has auto steam cook and auto power defrost.

Elekta EBRO-444HP OMR28.900

This is a 43l capacity electric oven with five stages of heating selector. It comes with two hot plates, with 500 and 800W power, respectively. It has a temperature selector between zero and 250 degrees Celsius.

GE GMOH30UCPSS OMR56.900

A 30l convection microwave/grill with electronic touch control, GE’s latest in this series has time and weight defrost feature and express cook. It has a 1,000W grill power and 900W microwave power.

Samsung GW73 OMR24.900

This is a 20l microwave/grill with a maximum wattage of 750. It employs the Triple Distribution System (TDS) technology and comes with touch control. It also has an electronic time control.

LG MC9287 OMR99.900

This is a 42l microwave/grill/convection from LG’s HealthCare Collection, which includes some nutritious menus. It has auto-cook and auto-reheat functions. It also has Steam Chef and Crispy Cook options.

Panasonic NN-CD997S OMR149.900

With a 42l oven capacity, three stage memory, delay start, two level shelf cooking, Panasonic’s exclusive Inverter technology is the only microwave technology that offers real power level control.

Panasonic NNS235 OMR32.500

With a 22l oven capacity and 800W power, this microwave oven comes with a one-touch menu. It also has child safety lock, turbo defrost and autoreheat options.

Sharp R-85STMA OMR95.000

Vacuum Cleaners Sharp EC-CW1000 OMR32.900 Wet and dry vacuum, 1,000W power, washable filters, 15l capacity, convenient wheel

Panasonic MC-761020 OMR62.200 6.2l dust bag capacity, Anti bacteria filter, threespeed control, 1,600W power

Samsung SD9420 OMR69.500 Aquatic canister vacuum cleaner, 2l dust capacity, HEPA 12 filter, two-step brush, steel telescopic pipe, bagless

Karcher SV1802 OMR230.000 Steam vacuum cleaner, four suction settings, five steam-flow settings, coarse dirt filter, foam filter, HEPA filter

Hoover V091PB OMR73.400 2,400W vacuum cleaner, variable power control, washable central HEPA exhaust filter, 3.25l dust capacity

Domestic Appliances Tefal Actifry OMR87.900 1,400W power, digital display, only one spoon of oil for 1kg of crispy chips, easy basket handling

Black & Decker FX800 OMR30.900 800W power food processor, 2.3l processing bowl, 1.7l blender, five speeds plus pulse

George Foreman GVR160S RO39.900

A 26l convection microwave/grill with touch control operation, the oven has Instant Cook, Express Cook, Express Defrost automatic features. It also has an electronic timer with an easy-to-read LCD display for precise cooking and defrosting.

Grill machine, patented sloped design, preheat indicator light, dishwasher-safe tray and spatula, nonstick-coating

Sharp R-898SLMA OMR72.000

750W power, 2l with serrated blades for superior blending and crushing, smoothie making, illuminated switch

This 26l convection microwave/grill has a 900W power. With Express Cook and Defrost features, the oven comes with six preset menus and five variable cooking power levels.

Black & Decker TRO60PB OMR40.400

This 42l electric oven has 1,800W input power. The oven comes with temperature control and a timer. It also has a function selector and a power indicator lamp, along with shelf supports.

For a copy of TECH on your desk, call 95413571

Philips HR2094 OMR35.500

Moulinex ‘ODACIO 3’-FP7131 OMR69.900 900W power food processor, 33 functions, five speeds plus pulse, security lock, comes with juice extractor

PSP 3000 + 2 Games OMR75.500

Gaming Consoles

This current version of the PlayStation Portable has a built-in microphone and a better screen that is even able to resist glare and so works better outdoors.

Nintendo DSi XL OMR91.200

The DSi XL is the longest, widest and heaviest of the DS models and features two 4.2-inch screens.

XBOX 360 250GB OMR129.900

With a stylish design, the internal 250GB hard drive allows you to save games and content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace. It has built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi and 5.1 surround sound.

Logitech G13 OMR42.800

The GamePanel LCD in this gaming keyboard keeps you informed of the game stats and other vital information to help you claim victory. It includes programmable G-keys that let you create macros on the fly.

Logitech G19 OMR85.800

With a colour GamePanel LCD and 12 programmable G-keys, this gaming keyboard supports multi-key input and has two high-speed USB 2.0 ports.

Logitech G27 OMR152.000

Logitech racing wheels and flight controllers simulate remarkable realism. Force feedback lets you feel every slip of the tyre, every shudder of the wing and the controls feel like the real thing.

Logitech G9X OMR48.200

The G9X Laser mouse ramps up to 5,000dpi and boasts a customisable grip and weighting system. It also has customisable LED lighting and uses Teflon feet to ensure smooth gliding over difficult or dusty surfaces.

PS3 Slim 320GB+2 Joysticks OMR 185.900

The PlayStation 3 returns with more capacity than ever (320GB), and has lower power consumption. It supports media streaming and its drive allows you to play Blu-Ray movies as well.

PlayStation Move Starter Pack OMR28.500

The Move is broken into three parts: the ‘Motion Controller’, the ‘Navigation Controller’ and the ‘PlayStation Eye Camera’. The Motion Controller contains built-in motion sensors.

Nintendo Wii Sports Resort Pack OMR94.400

The fastest selling console in history just got better. The Wii now sells its Wii Sports Resort and Wii MotionPlus accessory bundled into the console package at an extremely competitive price.

Our Current Top 5 Recommended Games Castlevania Lords of Shadow OMR28.900 Publisher: Konami Developer: MercurySteam Platform(s): PS3, Xbox 360 Genre: Action ESRB Rating: Mature

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West OMR28.900 Publisher: Namco Bandai Games Developer: Ninja Theory Platform(s): Xbox 360, PS3 Genre: Action ESRB Rating: R/P

Medal of Honor OMR28.900

Publisher: EA Games Developer: EA Games Platform(s): Xbox 360, PS3, PC Genre: Action ESRB Rating: Mature

Halo Reach OMR26.700

Publisher: Microsoft Developer: Bungie Platform(s): Xbox 360 Genre: Action ESRB Rating: Mature

StarCraft 2 – Wings of Liberty OMR25.700 Publisher: Blizzard Developer: Blizzard Platform(s): PC Genre: Strategy ESRB Rating: Teen

*All lists are in no particular order and prices are subject to change at the retailer’s discretion

Company

Product

Showroom

Service Dept.

Al Khalili Group

Acer

Wadi Kabir 24816303

24816303

Bahwan Electornics

Asset, Carrier, Ignis, Napro, Toshiba, Seiko, Casio, Titan, Sony Ericsson, Tempstar, Cooline, Corning, Print electronics, Dolphin, Benq, Ausonia, Daewoo, VIP, Dometic, Corby

Ruwi 24796629/32

24501965 / 66

Jawahir Oman

Bang & Olufsen

Qurm 24563213

24563213

Belltel

Nokia

Ruwi 24798222

24798222

Genetco

Sanyo, Videocon , Fujitsu, Thomson, York, Yamaha, Canon , HAAS, AEG, Sure, Caravell, Gulf Star, Safari, Admiral, Francia, Mitsubishi, Marc Climatic, Vortice, Guntner, Zanussi , Ziegra Imesa, Bitzer , Manitowoc, Bremer, Dito- Electrolux, Metro , Taylor, Costan

Al Qurum 24568806 Al Qurum 24561948 Muttrah 24713138 Ruwi 24830919 Seeb 24422797 Shatti al Qurum 24693292

24503653

HiTec Centre

Boston Accoustics, Denon, Leica, Polk Audio

Azaiba 24497384

24497384

Jumbo Electronics

Sony, VAIO, Sony professional Products, Blackberry, Supra, Midea Air-conditioners, Casio, Brother Sewing Machines, Acer, HP, Dyson, Gorenje

MBD 24818358, Al Araimi 24565845 QCC 24470529, Salalah 23291984

Wadi Kabir 24814815, 24814751, Fax 24815267

Khimji Luxury

Krups, Moulinex

Ruwi 24796161

99881627

K R Household

O General, Siemens

Wadi Kabir 24813333

24814793

MHD

Fagor, Pioneer

Ruwi 24732440

24732440

Meta Galaxy

Hitachi

Ruwi 24503653

24503653

Muscat Electronics

Daikin, Ricoh, Sony Professional products, Chigo, Sansui, JBL

Ruwi 24702982

24813408

Mustafa Sultan

Samsung, Haier, Philips, Nevica, Whirlpool

Al Khuwair 24636015

Wadi Kabir 24818018

Oman International Electronics & Trading Co.

Bose, Nec, JVC

Qurm 24565490

24830606

Oman Trading Est.

Bosch, LG, Palson, TCL, Prolux, Promate, Pearl, Souq Technia, GHanz, White Westinghouse, Hostess, Kenstar,

Ruwi 24834162 Al Araimi 2456148, 24810522

24810522, 24810156, 80075545

Omasco

Raymond Weil, Kolber, Westar, Alba, Maxima, HMT, Panasonic, Xper, Aftron, Black&Decker, GE

Qurm, 24564310 Ruwi 24833630

24560232

OMASCO - System Solutions

Panasonic

24565696

Sarco

Samsung, Frigidaire, Technoflame

Ruwi

Ghala 24593025

Sayed Bin Nasser Al Hashar

Ariston, Rinnai, Voltas, JBL, Kirloskar, Kardex, Lexmark

Ruwi 24700571 Ruwi 24706004, 24796007 Ruwi High Street 24834460 Salalah 23291405, Sohar 26840763 Sur 25544613

24704494

24702555

24700883

Oman Modern Electronics Co.

Sharp, JBL, Mastergas, Harman/Kardon, Onida, Nikai,

Shah Nagardas Manji Co.

Kodak, Olympus, Yashica, Cokin, Case Logic, Ruwi , Qurm 24562656 Lexar, Noritsu, Durst, Bushnell, Eiki, Iriver, Lulu Baushe 24593806, Steiner, Tasco, White Westinghouse, Igloo, Nizwa 25410184 Venus, Russel Hobbs, Addis, Noritake, Ocean, Wenger,

Emax

Multibrand

MCC 24558062, Fax 24558063

Technical Trading Co.

Westinghouse

Ruwi 24703515, Fax 24700010

Photocentre

Amano, Archivtechnik Kunze, Unomat Intl., Broncolor, Delkin Devices, Fuji Film, Epson, Green Clean, Hama, Hasselbald, Marumi, Mitsubishu Electric, Peli, Sigma, Sinar

Qurm 24565305 Al Khuwair 24479296

P&G

Brawn, Oral-B

24815474

Salman Store

Seb, Janome, Coolex

24799332

Abu Hani

La Germania, Starway, Westar, Starline, Tatung

24495141

Jashanmal

Mytag, Hoover

24702312

Loay

Macintosh, Benq, Epson, Sokkia, Acer

24708795

24708845

Al Moayyed Integrated Enterprise

Daewoo Electronics

24488795

If you would like to be listed, e-mail: tech@deenarmedia.com

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